THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

DAVIS 


The    Canterbury   Pilgrims 

A  COMEDY 


The  Canterbury  Pilgrims 


A    COMEDY 


BY 


PERCY    MACKAYE 


(gfBTSAS 

V      OF  THE    " 

UNIVERSITY  I  -  %ri^- 

OF  ^ 

THE    TABARD    INN 


THE    MACMILLAN   COMPANY 

LONDON  :    MACMILLAN  &  CO.,  LTD. 
1903 

All  rights  reserved 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 
DAVIS 


Cr'!EBAL 


COPYRIGHT,  1903, 
BY  THE  MACMILLAN  COMPANY. 


Set  up  and  clectrotyped  March,  1903. 


Norfoooti 

J.  8.  Cvuhing  &  Co.  —  Berwick  &  Smith  Co. 
Norwood,  Mass.,  U.S.A. 


O  KINDLY  Muse !  let  not  my  weak  tongue  falter 

In  telling  of  this  goodly  company, 

Of  their  old  piety  and  of  their  glee ; 

But  let  a  portion  of  ethereal  dew 

Fall  on  my  head,  and  presently  unmew 

My  soul ;  that  I  may  dare,  in  wayfaring, 

To  stammer  where  old  Chaucer  used  to  sing." 

[KEATS:  Endymion.] 


DRAMATIS    PERSONS 

I.  CHARACTERS  BASED  ON  "  THE  CANTERBURY  TALES." 

MEN 

GEOFFREY  CHAUCER,  Poet  at  King  Richard's  Court,  and  Knight  of  the 

Shire  for  Kent. 

The  KNIGHT  (Dan  Roderigo  d'Algezir}. 
The  SQUIRE  (Aubrey},  his  son. 
The  YEOMAN,  his  servant. 
The  MONK. 
The  FRIAR  (Huberd}. 
The  MERCHANT. 
The  CLERK. 
The  MAN-OF-LAW. 
The  FRANKLIN. 
The  HABERDASHER, 
The  CARPENTER, 
The  WEAVER, 
The  DYER, 
The  TAPICER, 
The  COOK  (Roger  Hogge}. 
The  SHIPMAN  (Jack}. 
The  DOCTOR. 
The  PARSON  (Jankiri). 
The  PLOUGHMAN. 
The  MILLER  (Bob  or  Robin}. 
The  MANCIPLE. 
The  REEVE. 
The  SUMMONER. 
The  PARDONER. 

vii 


Members  of  a  Guild. 


viii  DRAMATIS  PERSONS 


The  HOST  (Herry  Bailey). 
The  CANON'S  YEOMAN. 
JOANNES,   ^ 

MARCUS,     1-  The  Prioress's  Priests. 
PAULUS,     J 

WOMEN 


The  WIFE  OF  BATH  (Alisoun). 
The  PRIORESS  (Madame  Eglantine}. 
A  NUN,  her  attendant. 
MISTRESS  BAILEY,  of  the  Tabard  Inn. 

II.  CHARACTERS  NOT  BASED  ON  "THE  CANTERBURY  TALES." 

MEN 

RICHARD  II,  King  of  England. 

JOHN  OF  GAUNT,  Duke  of  Lancaster,  uncle  of  the  King,  brother-in-law 

of  Chaucer,  and  patron  of  Wycliffe. 
The  DUKE  OF  GLOUCESTER,  his  brother. 
DE  VERE,  Duke  of  Ireland,  Richard's  favourite. 
The  ARCHBISHOP  of  CANTERBURY. 

JOHN  WYCLIFFE,  the  religious  reformer,  founder  of  the  "  Lollards." 
BOTTLEJOHN,  Host  of  the  One  Nine-pin  inn,  at  Bob-up-and-down. 
His  PRENTICES  (Ned  and  Dick}. 
A  KITCHEN -BOY. 
A  VENDER  OF  RELICS. 
ANOTHER  VENDER. 
A  BLACK  FRIAR. 
A  GREY  FRIAR. 

A  PRIEST  OF  CANTERBURY  CATHEDRAL. 
HERALDS. 
CHOIR-BOYS. 

WOMEN 

JOHANNA,  Marchioness  of  Kent. 
CANTERBURY  BROOCH-GIRLS. 
SERVING-MAIDS. 

NOTE.  —  Those  designated  as  Alisoun's  "  Swains  "  are  the  Friar,  Cook,  Shipman, 
Miller,  Manciple,  Summoner,  Pardoner. 


ACT    FIRST 

"  BIFEL  that,  in  that  seson  on  a  day, 
In  Southwerk  at  the  Tabard  as  I  lay 
Redy  to  wenden  on  my  pilgrimage 
To  Caunterbury,  with  ful  devout  corage, 
At  night  was  come  in-to  that  hostelrye 
Wei  nyne  and  twenty  in  a  companye 
Of  sondry  folk,  by  aventure  y-falle 
In  felawshipe,  and  pilgrims  were  they  alle, 
That  toward  Caunterbury  wolden  ryde." 


Or   TKF 

I    UNIVERSITY  I 


or 


ACT   I 

TIME:  April  1 6th,  1387.     Late  afternoon. 

SCENE:    The  Tabard  Inn  at  Southwark,  near 
London. 

When  the  scene  opens,  about  half  of  the  PILGRIMS  have 
arrived ;  the  others  come  in  during  the  first  part 
of  the  act.  Those  already  arrived  are  the  MILLER, 
SHIPMAN,  COOK,  PARSON,  PLOUGHMAN,  FRANKLIN,  DOC 
TOR,  FRIAR,  HABERDASHER,  CARPENTER,  WEAVER,  DYER, 
TAPICER,  CLERK,  and  CHAUCER. 

At  rise  of  curtain,  the  HOST  is  just  moving  to  receive  the 
KNIGHT,  SQUIRE,  and  YEOMAN  at  the  door,  back. 
Chaucer  sits  with  a  big  volume  on  his  knee  in  the 
corner  by  the  fireplace,  left ;  right  front,  the  Miller 
and  the  Cook  are  wrestling,  while  those  near  look  on. 

COOK 
Now,  masters,  see  a  miller  eat  bran ! 

MILLER 

Corpus ! 
I'd  liever  wrastle  with  a  butterfly. 

SHIPMAN 

Tackle  him  aft. 

FRANKLIN 

Grip,  mon. 
{They  clutch  each  other. ~\ 


2  THE   CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

A  SERVING-MAID 
[Aside  to  Friar. ~\ 

A  diamond  pin  ? 

FRIAR 
{Lisps  slightly. ~\ 

One  of  thy  glances  sticked  through  my  heart ! 
[  Offers  her  the  pin.'] 

SERVING-MAID 

The  Master  is  not  looking  now. 

FRIAR 

A  bargain  ? 

\_Maid  nods,  fakes  the  pin,  and  hurries  off  to  serve  at  table. 
Friar  follows. ~\ 

HOST 
Welcome,  Sir  Knight ! 

KNIGHT 

Is  this  the  Tabard  Inn  ? 

HOST 
[Points  through  the  open  door  to  his  swinging  sign.~] 

Lo  yonder,  sir,  is  Herry  Bailey's  shirt 

Flappeth  in  the  wind ;  and  this  is  Herry  himself. 

[Claps  his  hands. for  a  serving-boy.'] 
Knave ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  3 

WEAVER 

\_Pounds   on  the  table  with  a  jug,  while   Carpenter  tosses 

dice:} 

Ale,  here !     Ale  ! 

\_A  shout  from  the  pilgrims,  fron,t.~\ 

MILLER 
{Throwing  the  Cook.'} 

Down ! 

SHIPMAN 

Jolly  chuck ! 

COOK 
[Getting  to  his  feet  with  a  bloody  nose  and fisting •.] 

'Sblood!     Thou  — 

FRANKLIN 

Hold,  Master  Cook,  sith  thou  hast  licked  the  platter, 
Go  now  and  wash  the  gravy  off  thy  nose. 
Look  to  him,  doctor. 

DOCTOR 
Here! 

FRANKLIN 
[To  the  Miller.'} 

And  thou  shalt  eat 
A  sop  of  wine  with  me.     By  God,  thy  hand ! 


4  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PARSON 

\To  Ploughman,  drawing  him  away.'] 
He  sweareth  like  Sathanas.     Come  ! 

PLOUGHMAN 

Toot,  brother ! 
A  little  swearing  saveth  from  the  gallows. 

MILLER 

\_Laughing  at  the  Cook.~\ 
His  nose  is  like  a  tart. 

CLERK 
[To  Chaucer,  feasting  his  eyes  on  his  book.~\ 

Grant  pardon,  sir. 
In  vanitate  humanorum  rerum, 
I'  the  world's  uproar,  'tis  sweet  to  find  a  scholar. 

CHAUCER 

A  book's  a  mistress  all  the  world  may  love 
And  none  be  jilted. 

CLERK 

Then  am  I  in  love. 
What  is  the  book  ? 

CHAUCER 

A  medley,  like  its  master, 
Containing  many  divers  characters, 
Bound  in  one  hide.     Whoso  shall  read  it  through 
He  shall  behold  Troilus  and  Launcelot 
Sighing  in  Caesar's  face,  and  Scaramouche 
Painting  with  grins  the  back  of  Aristotle. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  5 

CLERK 
[Sparkling.] 
What !  —  Aristotle  ? 

CHAUCER 
[Rising,  hands  him  the  volume.~\ 

I  prithee  look  it  through. 

CLERK 

Grammercy  —  somewhat  farther  from  the  piping. 

[Draws  farther  away  from  the  Squire,  who  is  beginning  to 
play  a  few  strains  on  his  flute,  in  front  of  the  fire. ~\ 

MAN   OF   LAW 
[Entering  with  MERCHANT.] 
For  this  recognisance  — 

MERCHANT 

The  ship  was  wrecked. 

MAN  OF   LAW 

Depardieux !     Then  your  property  is  flotsam 
And  liable  to  salvage.     Therefore  you 
Will  need  me  as  your  man  of  law. 

KNIGHT 
[To  Chaucer.'} 

I  knew 

You  were  a  soldier  by  your  bearing,  sir. 
You  were  at  Cressy  ? 


6  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

\ 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  Sir  Knight,  I  played 

With  tin  swords  then.     Though  I  have  often  fought 
At  Frenchmen's  heels,  I  was  but  six  years  old 
When  our  Black  Edward  won  his  spurs. 

KNIGHT 

Runs  time 
So  swiftly  ?  —  One  and  forty  years  ago ! 

HOST 
\_To  a  serving-maid.] 

Belive,  wench ! 

FRIAR 

[Stealing  a  kiss  from  her.~] 
In  principio  — 

HOST 

What's  here  ? 

MAID 
The  gentle  friar ! 

HOST 

Gentle  flower-de-luce ! 
[Makes  after  Friar,  who  dodges  behind  MISTRESS  BAILEY.] 

MISTRESS  BAILEY 

[_Shrewishly.~] 

Hold,  goodman  Herry !     'Tis  a  friend  of  mine. 
[Host  retires  ;  Friar  mocks  him.'] 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

KNIGHT 

I  am  returning  from  the  Holy  Land 
And  go  to  pay  my  vows  at  Canterbury. 
This  is  my  son. 

CHAUCER 

Go  you  to  Canterbury 
As  well,  Sir  Squire  ? 

»•      \_The  Squire,  putting  down  his  flute,  sighs  deeply. ~\ 

KNIGHT 

My  son,  the  gentleman 
Accosts  thee ! 

SQUIRE 

Noble  gentleman  —  Ah  me ! 
\_He  turns  awayj] 

CHAUCER 
\Follows  him.'] 

My  dearest  heart  and  best  beloved  foe, 
Why  liketh  you  to  do  me  all  this  woe  ? 
What  have  I  done  that  grieveth  you,  or  said, 
Save  that  I  love  and  serve  you,  high  and  low? 
And  whilst  I  live  I  will  do  ever  so. 
Wherefore,  my  sweet,  do  not  that  I  be  dead ; 
For  good  and  fair  and  gentle  as  ye  be, 
It  were  great  wonder  if  but  that  ye  had 
A  thousand  thousand  servants,  good  and  bad : 
The  most  unworthiest  servant  —  I  am  he  ! 


8  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SQUIRE 

Sir,  by  my  lady's  grace,  you  are  a  poet 
And  lover,  like  myself.     We  shall  be  brothers. 
But  pardon,  sir,  those  verses  are  not  yours. 
Dan  Chaucer  wrote  them.    Ah,  sir,  know  you  Chaucer  ? 

CHAUCER 

Twelve  stone  of  him ! 

1     SQUIRE 

Would  /  did  !     Is  he  not 
An  amorous  divinity  ?     Looks  he 
Like  pale  Leander,  or  some  ancient  god  ? 

CHAUCER 

Sooth,  he  is  like  old  Bacchus  round  the  middle. 

SQUIRE 

How  acts  he  when  in  love  ?     What  feathers  wears  he  ? 

Doth  he  sigh  oft  ?     What  lady  doth  he  serve  ? 

Oh! 

\At  a  smile  from  Chaucer,  he  starts  back  and  looks  at  him 
in  awe ;  then  hurries  to  the  Knight.  Chaucer  walks 
among  the  pilgrims ,  talking  with  them  severally^ 

MILLER 
\To  Franklin.] 
Ten  gallon  ale  ?     God's  arms !     I  take  thee. 

MAN  OF  LAW 

What's 
The  wager? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  9 

FRANKLIN 

Yonder  door ;  this  miller  here 
Shall  break  it,  at  a  running,  with  his  head. 
The  door  is  oak.     The  stakes  ten  gallon  ale. 

SHIPMAN 

Ho,  then,  I  bet  the  miller  shall  be  drunk. 

MERCHANT 

What  bet? 

SHIPMAN 

Twelve  crown  upon  the  miller. 

MERCHANT 

Done. 

[At  the  door  appears  the  PRIORESS,  accompanied  by  a  NUN 
and  her  three  PRIESTS,  one  of  whom,  JOANNES,  carries  a 
little  pup.  The  Host  hurries  up  with  a  reverence."] 

HOST 

Welcome,  my  lady  dear.     Vouchsafe  to  enter 
Poor  Kerry  Bailey's  inn. 

PRIORESS 
Merci. 

HOST 
\_To  a  setving-boy^ 

Knave,  show 

My  lady  Prioress  to  the  blue  chamber 
Where  His  Majesty,  King  Richard,  slept. 


10  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 

Joannes, 

Mark,  Paulus,  stay !  have  you  the  little  hound 
Safe  ? 

JOANNES 

Yes,  my  lady. 

PRIORESS 

Carry  him  before, 

But  carefully. 

MILLER 
\_To  Yeoman.'] 
Here,  nut-head,  hold  my  hood. 

YEOMAN 

Wilt  try  bareheaded  ? 

FRIAR 
'Mass! 

FRANKLIN 

Ho,  for  a  skull ! 

Miller,  thou  art  as  tough  a  knot  as  e'er 
The  Devil  tied.     By  God,  mine  ale  is  spilled. 

[The  priests  and  Prioress  have  just  reached  the  door,  left 
front,  which  the  Miller  is  preparing  to  ram.~\ 

PLOUGHMAN- 
The  door  is  locked. 

JOANNES 

But,  sir,  the  Prioress  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  u 

SHIPMAN 

Heigh  !     Clear  the  decks  ! 

[The  Miller,  with  clenched  fists,  and  head  doubled  over,  runs 
for  the  door.~\ 

YEOMAN 

Harrow ! 

PARSON 

Run,  Robin. 

GUILD-MEN 
\_Rise  from  their  dice.~\ 

Ho! 

[  With  a  crash,  the  Miller's  head  strikes  the  door  and  splits 
it.  At  the  shock,  he  rebounds  against  Joannes,  and 
reaching  to  save  himself  from  falling,  seizes  the  puppy, .] 

MILLER 
A  twenty  devils ! 

GUILD-MEN 

\_All  but  the  Weaver,  clambering  over  the  table. ~\ 
Come  on ! 

PLOUGHMAN 
[To  the  Miller^ 

What  aileth  thee  ? 

MILLER 
The  priest  hath  bit  my  hand. 


12  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOANNES 

Sweet  sir,  the  puppy  — 
It  was  the  puppy,  sir. 

MILLER 

Wring  me  its  neck. 

PRIORESS 

Alas,  Joannes  —  help  ! 

MILLER 

By  Corpus  bones ! 
Give  me  the  cur. 

PRIORESS 

St.  Loy  !     Will  no  one  help  ? 

CHAUCER 

Madame,  what  may  I  do  ? 

PRIORESS 

My  little  hound  — 

The  churl  —  My  little  hound !     The  churl  will  hurt  it. 
If  you  would  fetch  to  me  my  little  hound  — 

CHAUCER 

Madame,  I'd  fetch  you  Cerberus  from  hell. 

MILLER 

Lo,  masters  !     See  a  dog's  neck  wrung ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  13 

CHAUCER 

[Breaking  through  the  crowd,  seizes  the  Miller  by  the  throat.~\ 

Which  dog's  ? 

MILLER 

Leave   go!  —  'Sdeath!     Take   the   whelp,  a   devil's 
name. 

CHAUCER 
Kneel !     Ask  grace  of  this  lady  here. 

MILLER 
[Sullenly.'} 

What  lady  ? 

CHAUCER 

Of  her  whom  gentles  call  St.  Charity 
In  every  place  and  time.  — 

[  Turns  then  towards  Prioress .] 

What  other  name 

This  lady  bears,  I  have  not  yet  been  honoured 
With  knowing.  —  Kneel ! 

MILLER 
[Morosely;  kneels. ~\ 

Lady,  I  axe  your  pardon. 

CHAUCER 
Madame,  your  little  hound  is  safe. 


14  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 

[Nestles  the  little  hound  with  tender  effusiveness  ;  then  turns 
shyly  to  Chaucer.] 

Merci ! 
My  name  is  Madame  Eglantine. 

[Hurries  out,  left.] 

CHAUCER 
[Asifc] 

Hold,  Geoffrey ! 

Yon  beastie's  quaking  side  thumped  not  as  thine 
Thumps  now.     And  wilt  thou  ape  a  little  hound  ? 
Ah,  Madame  Eglantine,  unless  ye  be 
To  me,  as  well  as  him,  St.  Charity ! 

FRANKLIN 

Who  is  the  man  ? 

MILLER 

The  Devil,  by  his  eye. 

They  say  King  Richard  hath  to  court  a  wrastler 
Can  grip  ten  men.     I  guess  that  he  be  him. 

COOK 

Ho !  milksop  of  a  miller ! 

MILLER 

[Seizing  him] 

Say  it  twice ; 
What? 

COOK 

Nay,  thou  art  a  bull  at  bucking  doors. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  15 

FRANKLIN 

ribs  be  hoops  for  twenty  gallon  ale 
And  stop  your  wind-bags.     Come.  / 

MILLER 
[  With  a  grin,  follows  the  Franklin.~\ 

By  Corpus  bones ! 

SHIPMAN 
Twelve  crown. 

MERCHANT 

Twelve,  say  you  ?     See  my  man  of  law. 

WEAVER 

[Springs  to  his  feet^\ 
The  throw  is  mine! 

DYER 

A  lie !     When  we  were  away 
You  changed  the  dice ! 

WEAVER 

My  throw  was  cinq  and  three. 

DYER 

A  lie !     Have  it  in  your  gullet ! 

\_Draws  his  knife.     They  fight.~\ 

CARPENTER 

Part  them ! 

TAPICER 

Back ! 


16  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

HOST 

Harrow  !     Dick  Weaver,  hold  !     Fie,  Master  Dyer, 
Here's  not  a  dyeing  stablishment ;  we  want 
No  crimson  cloth  —  Clap  hands  now:     Knave,  more 
ale. 

CHAUCER 
[To  the  Doctor^ 

If  then,  as  by  hypothesis,  this  cook 
Hath  broke  his  nose,  it  follows  first  that  we 
Must  calculate  the  ascendent  of  his  image. 

DOCTOR 

Precisely  !     Pray  proceed.     I  am  fortunate 
To  have  met  a  fellow-doctor  at  this  inn. 

CHAUCER 

Next,  treating  him  by  magic  natural, 
Provide  him  well  with  old  authorities, 
As  Esculapius,  Diescorides, 
Damascien,  Constantinus,  Averrois, 
Hippocrates,  Serapion,  Razis, 
Bernardus,  Galienus,  Gilbertinus  — 

DOCTOR 
But,  sir,  the  fellow  cannot  read  — 

CHAUCER 

Why,  true ; 

Then  there  remains  but  one  sure  remedy, 
Thus :  bid  him,  fasting,  when  the  moon  is  wane, 
And  Venus  rises  in  the  house  of  Pisces, 
To  rub  it  nine  times  with  a  herring's  tail. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  17 

DOCTOR 
Yea,  Pisces  is  a  fish.  —  I  thank  you,  sir. 

[He  hurries  off  to  the  Cook,  whose  nose  he  has  patched.~\ 

HOST 

[To  the  Reeve,  who  enters. ~\ 
God  save   thee,  Osewold !     What's  o'clock  ?     Thou 

look'st 
As  puckered  as  a  pear  at  Candlemas. 

REEVE 

There  be  too  many  folk  i'  the  world ;  and  none 
Is  ripe  till  he  be  rotten. 

{Sits  at  table. ~\ 

Penny'orth  ale ! 

SQUIRE 
My  lord,  father ! 

KNIGHT 

Well,  son  ? 

SQUIRE 
[Looking  at  Chaucer. ~\ 

Sir,  saw  you  ever 

So  knightly,  sweet,  and  sovereign  a  man, 
With  eyes  so  glad  and  shrewdly  innocent  ? 
O,  when  I  laid  my  hand  in  his,  and  looked 
Into  his  eyes,  meseemed  I  rode  on  horse 
Into  the  April  open  fields,  and  heard 
The  larks  upsinging  in  the  sun.     Sir,  have 
You  guessed  who  'tis  ? 


1 8  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 


Some  valiant  officer. 


KNIGHT 

To  judge  him  by  his  speech, 


SQUIRE 
Nay,  /  have  guessed. 

\_A  merry  jingling  of  bells  outside.     Enter  the  Monk,  holding 
up  a  dead  swan.~\ 

MONK 

Soft !     Handle  not  the  fat  swan.     Give  it  me. 
Bailey,  I'll  learn  thy  cook  to  turn  a  spit. 

[Exit,  right.     Enter,  left,  Joannes.~\ 

CHAUCER 
{To  Ploughman.'] 

Aye,  man,  but  weather  is  the  ploughman's  wife 
To  take  for  worse  or  better.     If  thy  loam 
Be  thin,  and  little  snow,  which  is  the  best 
Manure,  then  thou  must  dung  thy  furrows  twice 
'Twixt  Michelmas  and  March. 

PLOUGHMAN 

Aye,  but  — 

JOANNES 

Sir  Knight, 
This  letter  .  .  . 

CHAUCER 
What !  from  whom  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  19 

PLOUGHMAN 

Toot !     Canst  thou  read,  mon  ? 

JOANNES 

This  letter,  sir,  my  Lady  Prioress  — 

CHAUCER 

From  Madame  Eglantine?     Waits  she  an  answer? 

JOANNES 

So  please  you,  sir. 

CHAUCER 

Sweet  saints ! 
\_Takes  the  letter  and  reads,  aside. ~] 

PLOUGHMAN 
[  Watches  Chaucer  curiously\. 

Aye,  'e  can  read  it. 

[Outside,  is  heard  the  distant  voice  of  the  Wife  of  Bath 
(kusmnx) ,  joined  in  chorus  by  the  PARDONER,  MANCIPLE, 
and  SUMMONER,  singingj] 

ALISOUN 

When  folk  o'  Faerie 

Are  laughing  in  the  laund, 

And  the  nix  pipes  low  in  the  miller's  pond, 
Come  hither,  love,  to  me. 

[Chorus. ~\ 

With  doe  and  with  dove, 
Come  back  to  your  love. 
Come  hither,  love,  to  me. 


20  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 

\_Reading  the  Prioress's  letter,  as  the  song  outside  sounds 
nearer.~\ 

"Monsieur  1'inconnu  Chevalier  — 

These  greetings  shall  apprise  you  that  the  little 
hound  is  convalescent,  and  now  suffereth  from  noth 
ing  save  a  sore  necessity  for  nourishment.  Where 
fore,  being  cast  in  holy  pilgrimage  upon  this  revelous 
inn,  I  appeal  once  more,  gentil  monsieur,  to  your  hon 
ourable  chivalry,  of  which  I  beseech  you  this  favour,  to 
wit ;  that  you  shall  see  prepared  and  delivered  into  the 
hands  of  Joannes,  my  priest,  a  recipe  as  follows :  — 

One  ounce  of  wastel-bread,  toasted  a  pleasant 

brown ; 

One  little  cup  of  fresh  milk ; 
Soak  the  former  in  the  latter,  till  the  sand-glass 

shall  be  run  half  out ; 
Then  sprinkle  sparingly  with   sweet  ipot  of 

beet,  rubbed  fine. 

Serve  neatly. 

MADAME  EGLANTINE." 

SHIPMAN 

\_At  the  door,  to  Friar,  who  is  starting  to  flirt  with  a  third 
serving-maid.^  , 

Hist !     Who's  yon  jolly  Nancy  riding  here, 
With  them  three  tapsters  tooting  up  behind  ? 

FRIAR 

By  sweet  St.  Cuthbert ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  21 

SHIPMAN 

Ha !  ye  ken  the  wench. 

FRIAR 

The  wench  ?     Oho  !     Thou  sayest  well.     List,  sir ; 

List,  gentle  Mariner !     Thy  wench  hath  been 

A  five  times  wedded  and  five  hundred  woo'd ; 

Hath  rode  alone  to  sweet  Jerusalem 

And  back  more  oft  than  Dick-the-Lion's-Heart ; 

And  in  her  right  ear  she  is  deaf  as  stone, 

Because,  she  saith,  that  once  with  her  right  ear 

She  listened  to  a  lusty  Saracen. 

She  was  not  born  a-yesterday,  yet,  by 

The  merry  mass,  when  she  comes  in  the  door, 

She  maketh  sweet-sixteen  as  stale  as  dough. 

SHIPMAN 

She  looks  a  jolly  Malkin.     What's  her  name? 

FRIAR 

Dame  Alisoun,  a  cloth-maker  of  Bath. 

CHAUCER 

[Reading."] 
"  P.S.     Let  not  the  under-side  be  toasted  as  brown  as 

the  upper. 
P. P.S.     The  milk  should  not  be  skimmed." 

[Laughs  to  himself. ~\ 

"  A  little  cup  of  milk  and  wastel-bread  !  " 
Haha  !  —  A  gentle  heroine  for  a  tale  ! 
My  heart  is  lost. 


22  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

[To  Joannes,  who  is  trembling  at  the  Miller. ~\ 

What,  fellow,  art  thou  scared  ? 
Come  with  me  to  the  kitchen. 

JOANNES 
[Follows  timidly.~\ 

Ben 'cite !     \_ExeuntJ] 

[  Outside  the  song,  "  Come  hither,  Love"  bursts  into  chorus. 
Enter  the  WIFE  OF  BATH,  astride  a  small  white  ass, 
which  is  fancifully  caparisoned  like  a  fairy  creature. 
Spurs  jingle  on  the  Wife's  boots,  and  on  her  head  is  a 
great  round  hat.  Followed  by  the  SUMMONER,  PARDONER, 
and  MANCIPLE,  she  rides  into  the  middle  of  the  floor  and 
reins  up.~\ 

ALISOUN 

Whoa-oop  !  —  God  save  this  merry  company ! 

[A  commotion.'] 

By  God,  I  ween  ye  ken  not  what  I  am : 
I  am  the  jolly  elf-queen,  and  this  is 
My  milk-white  doe,  whereon  I  ride  as  light 
As  Robin  Good-boy  on  a  bumble-bee ; 
[Indicating  the  ass's  ears.~\ 

These  be  his  wings.  - 

And  lo  —  my  retinue !     . 
These  here  be  choir-boys  from  Fairy-land. 
Come,  Pardoner,  toot  up  my  praise  anon. 

PARDONER  AND  ALISOUN  [sing] 

When  sap  runs  in  the  tree, 

And  the  huntsman  sings  "  Halloo  !  " 

And  the  greenwood  saith  :  "  Peewit !  Cuckoo  !  " 

Come  hither,  love,  to  me. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  23 

SWAINS  AND  ALISOUN 

With  turtle  and  plover, 
Come  back  to  your  lover. 
Come  hither,  love,  to  me. 

ALISOUN 

Now,  lads,  the  chorus  ! 

\The  Swains  and  Alisoun,  joined  by  several  other  pilgrims, 
repeat  chorus.~\ 

MILLER 
Nails  and  blood !     Again ! 

FRIAR 

Encore ! 

ALISOUN 

Nay  lads,  the  song  hath  dried  my  whistle. 
The  first  that  fetches  me  a  merry  jug 
Shall  kiss  my  lily-white  hand. 
{The  Swains,  with  a  shout,  scramble  to  get  ale  of  the  tapster. ~\ 

SWAINS 

Here,  ale  here !  ale ! 

HOST 

Slow,  masters  !     Turtle  wins  the  rabbit  race. 

MILLER 

[  Offers  his  tankard,  tipsily.~\ 
Give's  thy  hand,  girl. 


24  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
Thou  art  drunk !     'Tis  empty. 

MILLER 

Well,  'tis  a  jug.     Ye  said  "  a  merry  jug." 

ALISOUN 

Pardee !    I'll  keep  my  word. 

MILLER 

[Grinning,  raises  his  face  to  her.~\ 
A  kiss  ? 


ALISOUN 

A  smack 

[Flings  the  tankard  at  his  head.~\ 


Harrow ! 


MILLER 
[Dodging  it.~] 

THE  OTHER   SWAINS 

[Pell-mell.-] 
Here  !  here  !    Take  mine  ! 


FRIAR 

Drink,  sweet  Queen  Mab ! 

[Re-enter  Chaucer  and  Joannes.     Chattcer  carries  in  his 
hand  a  crock.~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  2$ 

ALISOUN 
\_To  the  Friar. ~\ 

What,  Huberd,  are  ye  there  ?     Ye  are  too  late, 
All  o'  ye !     The  elf -queen  spies  her  Oberon. 
[  Wheeling  the  ass  to  confront  Chaucer •.] 

By  God,  sir,  you're  the  figure  of  a  man 
For  me.  —  Give  me  thy  name. 

CHAUCER 

Your  Majesty, 

This  is  most  sudden.     Dare  I  hope  you  would 
Have  me  bestow  my  humble  name  upon  you  ? 

ALISOUN 

Make  it  a  swap,  mon.     Mine  is  Alisoun, 
And  lads  they  ken  me  as  the  Wife  of  Bath ! 

CHAUCER 

My  name  is  Geoffrey.     When  the  moon  is  full, 
I  am  an  elf  and  skip  upon  the  green ; 
By  my  circumference  fairy -rings  are  drawn, 
And  lasses  ken  me  as  the  Elvish  Knight. 

SQUIRE 
[Aside.] 
Father,  'tis  he  —  the  poet  laureate ! 

KNIGHT 

Brother-in-law  to  John  of  Gaunt  ?     „ 


26  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SQUIRE 

The  same. 

SHIPMAN 
[Offers  his  mug  again. ,] 

Take  this,  old  girl. 

ALISOUN 

The  devil  take  a  tar. 
[Snatches  the  crock  from  Chaucer's  hand.~\ 
I'll  take  a  swig  from  Geoffrey's.  —  Holy  Virgin ! 
What  pap  is  this  here  ?     Milk  and  wastel-bread  ? 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  'tis  a  kind  of  brew  concocted  from 
The  milky  way,  to  nurse  unmarried  maids. 

ALISOUN 

[Hands  it  back  quickly '.] 
Saints !     None  o'  that  for  me. 

CHAUCER 
[Aside  to  Joannes. ,] 

Bear  it  to  your  mistress. 

ALISOUN 

[Aside.'] 
Mistress  ?     Aha !  —  A  woman  in  the  case. 

[Aloud.'] 

Give  us  your  hand,  Sir  Knight  o'  the  Wastel-bread, 
And  help  me  light  adown.  — 

What !     Are  ye  af eared 
To  take  me  in  your  arms  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  2/ 

CHAUCER 

Sweet  Alisoun, 

Thou  art  a  vision  of  the  ruddy  Venus 
Bright  pommelled  on  the  unspotted  Pegasus, 
And  I  am  Ganymede,  thy  stable  boy. 
\_He  helps  her  to  alight.~\ 

ALISOUN 
Well  swung !     What  think  ye  of  my  jolly  heft  ? 

CHAUCER 

Thou  art  a  very  dandelion  seed 
And  I  thy  zephyr. 

MILLER 

\_To  the  Swains. ~\ 
'Sblood  !     He  steals  our  wench. 

SQUIRE 

\_Approaching  Chaucer  diffidently,  speaks  under  his  breath.~\ 
Great  Master  Chaucer. 

CHAUCER 

Hush  !     Speak  not  my  name. 
\_Takes  the  Squire  aside. ~\ 

ALISOUN 

Halloa  !  what's  struck  this  jolly  company  ? 
Ye're  flat  as  stale  ale.     Master  Summoner,  what's 
The  matter  now  ?     Ye  should  be  glad  at  heart 
To  wear  so  merry  a  bonfire  in  your  face. 


28  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SUMMONER 
Was  it  for  this  I  sang,  "  Come  hither,  Love  "  ? 

COOK 
Aye,  was  it  for  this  ? 

ALISOUN 

What,  Roger  Hogge,  yourself  ? 
How  long,  bird,  have  you  worn  a  gallows-warrant 
Upon  your  nose  ? 

[The  others  hoot.'} 

COOK 

As  long,  Dame  Alisoun, 
As  you  have  had  a  hogshead  for  a  sweetheart. 

ALISOUN 

Geoffrey,  ye  mean  ?     Ho  !     Are  ye  jealous  there  ? 
\To  the  Shipman.~\ 

Jack,  too,  and  hast  a  wife  to  home  at  Dartmouth  ? 
Hark,  lads !     This  Jealousy  is  but  a  ninny  ; 
For  though  there  be  a  nine-and-twenty  stars, 
Yet  Jealousy  stares  only  at  the  moon. 
Lo !  I  myself  have  made  a  vow  'twixt  here 
And  holy  Thomas'  shrine  to  twig  a  husband ; 
But  if  I  like  this  fellow  Geoffrey,  can't 
I  like  ye  all  ?     By  God,  give  me  your  fists ; 
And  I  will  tip  ye  a  secret. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  33 

[Mysteriously.] 

I  am  deef ! 

Ye  ken  all  great  folks  have  some  great  defect : 
Cupid  is  blind  and  Alisoun  is  deef ; 
But  Cupid  —  he  can  wink  the  t'other  eye, 
And  Alis  —  she  can  ope  the  t'other  ear. 

FRIAR 

Sweet  Alis,  which  is  deaf  ? 

ALISOUN 

I  said,  the  t'other. 

FRIAR 

Nay,  but  which  ear,  the  right  or  left  ? 

ALISOUN 

Love,  if 

Ye  guess  the  right  ye  won't  be  left :  how's  that  ? 
So,  fellows,  ye  can  knock  at  either  door ; 
And  while  Tom  standeth  scraping  the  front  mat, 
By  God  then,  Dick,  go  rap  at  the  side  porch ; 
The  t'other  door  is  locked ;  I  say  not  which. 

[Laughing  and  boxing  their  ears  as  they  try,  in  turn,  to  whis 
per  to  her,  she  leads  them  to  the  ale-barrel,  where  they 
drink.'] 

FRIAR 

Sweet  brethren,  drink  with  me  to  t'other  ear ! 


ALISOUN 


ALISOUN 

Here's  pot-luck  to  you  all,  lads ! 


28  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PARDONER 
Was  Vhas  spread  out  his  relics  in  another  part  of  the  room.~] 

Pardons !  pardons ! 

yffer  your  nobles  now ;  spoons,  brooches,  rings : 
Radix  malorum  est  cupiditas. 

CHAUCER 
\_Aside  to  Squire.~\ 

Pray,  speak  no  word  of  who  I  am.     I  ride 
To  Canterbury  now,  to  bid  farewell 
My  kinsman,  John  of  Gaunt.     But  on  the  road, 
I  travel  here  incognito. 

SQUIRE 

But,  sir, 

At  least,  beseech  you,  let  me  guard  your  person ; 
So  mean  an  inn,  such  raw  folk,  must  offend 
King  Richard's  royal  poet. 

CHAUCER 

Not  so,  lad. 
To  live  a  king  with  kings,  a  clod  with  clods, 
To  be  at  heart  a  bird  of  every  feather, 
A  fellow  of  the  finch  as  well  as  the  lark, 
The  equal  of  each,  brother  of  every  man : 
That  is  to  be  a  poet,  and  to  blow 
Apollo's  pipe  with  every  breath  you  breathe. 
Therefore,  sweet  boy,  don't  label  me  again 
In  this  good  company. 

SQUIRE 

I  will  not,  sir  — 
\_Aside.~] 
A  god  !     A  very  god ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  33 

PARDONER 

Here's  relics !  pardons ! 

Offer  your  nobles  now ;  spoons,  brooches,  rings  ! 
Lordings,  step  up !     Pardons  from  Rome  all  hot. 
\_A  crowd  gathers  round  him.~\ 

PARSON 

\_Lifting  a  relic.  ~\ 
What's  this? 

PARDONER 

That,  master,  is  the  shoulder-bone 
Of  a  sheep  once  slaughtered  by  a  holy  Jew. 
Take  heed,  lordings,  take  heed !     What  man  is  here 
That  hath  to  home  a  well  ? 

SEVERAL 

I!  I! 

PARDONER 

Pay  heed ! 

Let  any  man  take  this  same  shoulder-bone 
And  chuck  it  in  his  well,  and  if  he  own 
A  cow,  or  calf,  or  ass,  which  hath  the  pox, 
Take  water  from  that  well,  and  wash  its  tongue. 
Presto !     It  shall  be  well  again. 

•PLOUGHMAN 
{To  the  Parson^ 

By  Mary, 
I'll  try  it  on  Mol. 


28  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PARDONER 

War  Hark,  lordings,  what  I  say ! 

if  also  the  goodman  that  owns  the  beasts 
Shall,  fasting,  before  cock-crow,  drink  three  draughts 
Of  that  same  well,  his  store  shall  multiply. 

PARSON 

My  word ! 

FRANKLIN 

Nay,  that's  worth  while. 

PARDONER 

List  what  I  say  ! 

Also,  if  any  wife  shall  boil  a  broth 
Of  this  same  bone,  it  healeth  jealousy. 

ALISOUN 

Ho  !  give  it  me !     And  every  fellow  here 
Shall  suck  the  marrow-bone. 

PARDONER 

What  will  you  offer  ? 

ALISOUN 
[Throws  a  kiss.~\ 
That's  all  ye  get  o'  me. 

PARSON 

I'll  give  a  florin. 

PARDONER 

Done,  Master  Parson.     Listen,  lordings,  list! 

This  is  a  piece  o'  the  sail  St.  Peter  had 

When  he  walked  on  the  sea ;  and  lo !  this  cloth  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  33 

ALISOUN 
A  pillow-case ! 

PARDONER 

This  is  the  Virgin's  veil. 
And  in  this  crystal  glass  behold  — 

ALISOUN 

Pig's  bones  ! 

\_Slaps  Chaucer  on  the  shoulder.~\ 
What,  Geoffrey  lad  !     Which  will  ye  liever  kiss, 
A  dead  saint's  bones,  or  a  live  lass  —  her  lips  ? 
[Enter,  Z.,  the  Prioress. ~\ 

CHAUCER 

Why,  Alisoun,  I  say  all  flesh  is  grave-clothes, 
And  lips  the  flowers  that  blossom  o'er  our  bones ; 
God  planted  'em  to  bloom  in  laughter's  sunshine 
And  April  kissing-showers. 

\_Laughing,  he  kisses  Alisoun  and  faces  the  Prioress, .] 

St.  Charity ! 

ALISOUN 

Haha !     That  time  I  had  thee  on  the  rump. 
[She  calls  the  Friar  aside,  R.~\ 

PRIORESS 
[Starting  to  go.~\ 
Je  vous  demande  pardong,  Monsieur. 


34  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 

Madame, 
Qu'est  ce  que  je  puis  faire  pour  elle  ? 

PRIORESS 

Rien,  rien. 

CHAUCER 

Madame,  mais  si  vous  saviez  comme  je  meurs 
De  vous  servir  — 

PRIORESS 

You  speak  patois,  Monsieur ; 
/  studied  French  in  Stratf ord-at-the-Bowe. 

CHAUCER 

Your  accent  is  adorably  —  unique. 

PRIORESS 

[/f  about  to  melt,  but  sees  Alisoun.~\ 
And  you  a  gentilhomme  —  at  least  I  thought  so 
Whenas  you  saved  my  little  hound  —  Ah,  sir ! 

CHAUCER 
Adam  was  our  first  father :  I'm  her  brother. 

PRIORESS 
You  meant  no  more  ? 

CHAUCER 

Her  brother  and  your  servant, 
Madame.     And  for  the  rest,  I  ride  to  Canterbury : 
I  will  absolve  me  at  St.  Thomas'  shrine. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  35 

PRIORESS 
[Eagerly.] 
Go  you  to  Canterbury  ? 

CHAUCER 

With  the  rest. 

PRIORESS 

Oh  !     I  am  glad  —  that  is,  I  came  to  ask  you. 
Know  you,  Monsieur,  where  lies  upon  the  way 
A  little  thorp  men  call  Bob-up-and-down  ? 

CHAUCER 

Right  well  —  we  pass  it  on  the  road. 

PRIORESS 

We  do  ? 
Merci. 

[Going.] 

MILLER 

[Amid  uproar,  drinks  to  Alisoun.~\ 
Lend  me  thy  t'other  ear. 
[Startled,  the  Prioress  returns  to  Chaucer.     Behind  them, 

the  Friar,  at  a  sign  from  Alisoun,  listens  unobserved] 
*> 

PRIORESS 

You  see  — 

I  expect  to  meet  my  brother  on  the  road. 
He  is  returning  from  the  Holy  Land ; 
I  am  to  meet  him  at  the  One  Nine-pin, 
A  tavern  at  Bob-up-and-down.     But  — 


36  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 

But? 

PRIORESS 

I  have  not  seen  him  since  I  was  a  child. 
I  have  forgotten  how  he  looks. 

CHAUCER 

He  is 
Returning  from  the  Holy  Land  ? 

PRIORESS 

And  has 
His  son  with  him,  for  squire.     He  is  a  knight. 

CHAUCER 

[Aside,  looking  at  the  Knight  and  Squire, ,] 
A  son  —  his  squire  ?     Good  Lord  ! 

PRIORESS 

And  so,  Monsieur, 

I'm  boldened  by  your  courtesy  to  ask 
Your  help  to  find  him  at  Bob-up-and-down, 
Till  which  —  your  kind  protection  on  the  road. 
\_More  uproar,  R.~\ 

CHAUCER 
But  — 

PRIORESS 

Have  I  asked  too  much  ? 

CHAUCER 

Madame,  I  am  honoured. 
\Hesitatingly  ^\ 
How,  then,  am  I  to  recognise  your  brother  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 


37 


PRIORESS 

He  wears  a  ring,  on  which  is  charactered 
The  letter  "  A,"  and  after,  writ,  in  Latin, 
The  same  inscription  as  is  fashioned  here 
Upon  my  brooch.     I  may  not  take  it  off, 
For  I  did  promise  him  to  wear  it  always. 
But  look,  sir,  here's  the  motto.     Can  you  read  it  ? 
[She  extends  her  hand,  from  the  bracelet  of  which  dangles  a 
brooch.     The  Friar  draws  nearer  J\ 

CHAUCER 
I  thank  you. 


"Amor  vincit  omnia." 

{Looking  at  her.~\ 
"  Love  conquers  all.'-' 

PRIORESS 

C'est  juste,  Monsieur.     Adieu  ! 

{Exit,  Z.] 

FRIAR 

{Making  off  to  Alisoun.~\ 
Hist  !  "  Amor  vincit  omnia,"  Sweet  Alis  ! 
[After  talking  aside  with  Alisoun  he  goes  to  the  Knight.  ] 

CHAUCER 

{Aside,  looking  at  the  Knight  and  Squire.'] 
A  morning's  canter  to  Bob-up-and-down  ! 
"Till  which  —  my  kind  protection  on  the  road." 
When  last  they  met,  she  was  a  little  child  ; 
Besides,  I  will  make  verses  for  his  son. 


1 


38  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

A  morning's  canter  —  time,  the  month  of  April  — 
Place,  Merry  England  —  Why  not  Lord  Protector 
Geoffrey  ?     Her  brother !     What's  a  suit  of  armor? 
Nay !     "  Amor  vincit  omnia." 

{Turns  away.~\ 

FRIAR 
\_To  the  Knight,  whose  finger-ring  he  examines^ 

How  quaint,  sir! 
A  crowned  "  A  "  and  underneath  a  motto. 

KNIGHT 

Quite  so. 

FRIAR 

Merci ! 

\Returns  quickly  to  Alisoun."} 

ALISOUN 
Her  brother  —  the  One  Nine-pin  ? 

FRIAR 

To-morrow. 

ALISOUN 

Good. 

FRIAR 

Sweet  Alisoun  —  my  pay  ? 

ALISOUN 

Saith  holy  Brother  Huberd  ?     Love's  reward 
Is  service. 

\_Aside,  eyeing  Chaucer,  who  passes  her.~\ 

Corpus  Venus  !     What  a  figure  ! 
I'll  woo  him.     Ay;  but  first  to  rid  me  of 
These  other  fellows. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  39 

{To  the  Friar. ~\ 

Hist! 

In  Peggy's  stall  — 
Peggy's  my  milk-white  doe  —  in  Peggy's  stall, 
Thou'lt  find  another  jolly  beggar,  waits 
To  dun  me. 

FRIAR 

Ho  !     A  rendezvous  ? 

ALISOUN 

A  trysting. 

Go,  for  my  love,  and  play  the  wench  for  me, 
And  nab  him  by  the  ears  until  I  come. 

FRIAR 

St.  Cupid,  I  am  game.     In  Peggy's  stall  ? 

\_Exit.~] 

{Alisoun  whispers  aside  individually  to  the  Shipman  and 
Manciple,  who  exeunt  at  different  doors.'] 

CARPENTER 

Sack  ?     Sack  in  the  cellarage  ? 

WEAVER 

Come  on,  let's  tap  it. 

[Exeunt  with  a  number  of  others .] 

SUMMONER 

{At  table,  trying  to  rise."] 
Qu  —  questio  quid  juris  ? 

COOK 

Now  he's  drunk 
You'll  get  no  more  from  him  but  "  hie,  hac,  hoc." 


40  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

[Aside  to  the  Miller.'] 
And  hold  him  till  I  come. 

MILLER 

In  Peggy's  stall  ? 

His  ears  shall  be  an  ell  long  !  —  Pull  his  ears  ! 
[Exit.] 

CLERK 

\_Dazedly  to  Chaucer,  returning  him  his  book.~\ 
I  thank  you,  sir.     Is  this  the  Tabard  Inn  ? 
So  then  I'm  back  again.     Such  mighty  voyages 
The  mind  sails  in  a  book  ! 

\_He  walks  slowly  forth  into  the  air.     Chaucer  sits  again  by 
the  fireplace,  with  the  book  on  his  knees] 

ALISOUN 
{Aside  to  the  Cook.'} 

Hold  fast,  and  wait. 

COOK 

In  Peggy's  stall  ? 

ALISOUN 

Aye. 

COOK 
Ears  for  nose,  Bob  Miller. 


CHAUCER 
[Aside.] 

In  Peggy's  stall, 
"  Love  conquers  all." 

[Except  for  the  drunken  Summoner,  Alisoun  and  Chaucer 
are  now  alone.  ~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  41 

ALISOUN 

\_To  the  Summoner,  lifting  his  head  from  the  table. ~\ 
Ho,  cockerel !     Perk  up  thy  bill. 

SUMMONER 

Quid  juris  ? 

ALISOUN 

Cluck!     Cluck!      How  pretty  Red-comb  chucketh. 

Hark ! 
[Throwing  her  arms  round  his  neck,  she  whispers  in  his  ear.~\ 

SUMMONER 

A  pax !     What  did  a'  say  ?     A  pax  upon  him. 
A*  said  a'd  pull  my  ears  —  in  Peggy's  stall  ? 
By  questio  !   a  brimstone-cherub  —  me ! 

[Rising.'] 

Quid  juris  !     Blood  shall  spurt.     By  quid  !     His  nose 
Shall  have  a  pax.     By  nails  !     A  bloody  quid ! 
[Seizing  up  from  the  table  a  round  loaf  for  a  shield  and  a 
long  loaf  for  a  sword,  he  reels  out.'] 

ALISOUN 
[Laughing.'] 

So,  Peggy,  they  shall  woo  thy  lily-white  hoof, 
While  Alisoun  doth  keep  her  rendezvous. 

[  Comes  over  to  Chaucer ^\ 
Ho,  candle  !     Come  out  from  thy  bushel. 

CHAUCER 
\_Peering  over  the  edge  of  his  book.~] 

Nay, 
Tis  a  dark  world  to  shine  in ;  I  will  read. 


42  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

A  book !  Toot !  My  fifth  husband  was  a  clerk ; 
He  catched  more  learning  on  his  head  than  in  it. 
What  is't  about  ? 

CHAUCER 

The  wickedness  of  woman. 

ALISOUN 

A  man,  then,  wrote  it.     If  you  men  will  write, 
We  wives  will  keep  ye  busy.     Read's  a  snack. 

CHAUCER 

\Pretending  to  read.~\ 

"  Whoso  that  builds  his  mansion  all  of  mallows, 
Whoso  that  spurs  his  blind  horse  over  the  fallows, 
Whoso  that  lets  his  wife  seek  shrines  and  hallows, 
Is  worthy  to  be  hanged  on  the  gallows." 

ALISOUN 

Chuck  that  to  another  dog.     My  man  is  dead. 

CHAUCER 
\_Imperturbably. ~\ 

"  A  lovely  woman,  chaste,  is  like  a  rose ; 
Unchaste,  a  ring  of  gold  in  a  sow's  nose." 

ALISOUN 

Lo,  what  a  pretty  preaching  pardoner ! 
"  Offer  your  nobles  now  ;  spoons,  brooches,  rings  !  " 
Cork  up  thy  froth,  a  devil's  name !     Come,  play. 


THE   CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  43 

CHAUCER 

"  Better  it  is  to  dwell  high  on  the  roof 
Than  down  i'  the  house  where  woman  wields  reproof." 
O  what  a  list  of  ladies !     What  a  world ! 
Hark,  Alisoun  !  and  after  thou  hast  heard, 
Repent,  and  cease  to  be  a  woman.     Hark ! 
"  Who  first  obeyed  the  snake's  advice,  to  thieve 
The  apple  from  God's  Eden  ?  —  Mother  Eve." 

ALISOUN 

That's  Adam's  whopper.     He  stole  it  and  hid  in's 

throat : 
Feel  o'  your  own ;  the  apple  sticks  there  yet. 

>  CHAUCER 

[Dramatic 'ally, .] 

"  Who  from  great  Samson's  brow  hath  slyly  shorn 
His  strength  ?     Delila,  answer  to  thy  scorn.^ 
O  Hercules !     What  woman-shaped  chimaera 
Gave  thee  the  poisoned  cloak  ?     Thy  Deianira. 
O  pate  of  Socrates !     Who  from  the  steepy; 
Housetop  upset  the  slop-pail  ?     Thy  Xantippe  ! 
Yea,  speeding  her  lover  through  the  dark  finestra, 
Who  hath  her  husband  slain,  but  Clytemnestra ! 
Thou,  too,  O  Cleopatra — " 

ALISOUN 
{Tearing  a  page  out  of  the  book,  boxes  Chaucer  on  the  cheek.~\ 

Hold  thy  gab ! 
A  devil  fetch  thy  drasty  book ! 


44  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 

Hold,  hold, 
Dame  Alls !  gentle  Alisoun  — 

\_Recovers  the  torn  page. ~\ 

ALISOUN 

Hoot-toot ! 

Are  ye  so  dainty  with  a  dirty  parchment 
And  so  slipshod  to  smirch  our  reputations  ? 
You   men !      God's   arms !      What   ken   ye   of   true 

women  ? 

You  stuff  one  doll  and  name  it  Modesty, 
And  bid  her  mince  and  giggle,  hang  her  head 
And  ogle  in  her  sleeve ;  another  poppet 
You  make  of  snow  and  name  St.  Innocence : 
She  sits  by  moonlight  in  a  silver  night-gown 
And  sighs  love-Latin  in  a  nunnery. 
By  Corpus  bones  !  is  not  a  mare  a  horse  ? 
A  woman  is  but  man ;  and  both  one  beast  — 
A  lusty  animal,  for  field  or  harness. 
But  no  !  ye  sanctify  a  squeamish  mule ; 
And  when  an  honest  wench,  that  speaks  her  mind, 
Meets  a  fine  lad  and  slaps  him  on  the  buttock, 
And  says  out  plat :  "  Thou  art  a  man  :  I  love  thee  —  " 
She  is  a  sinner,  and  your  doll  a  saint. 

CHAUCER 
Alis,  thou  speak'st  like  one  in  jealousy. 

ALISOUN 

Why,  Geoffrey,  so  I  am.     To  tell  thee  flat, 
I'm  jealous  of  thy  Lady  Prioress. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  45 

CHAUCER 
Peace,  dame.     Speak  not  her  name  with  mine. 

ALISOUN 

Aye,  go  it, 

Miss  Innocence  and  Master  Modesty ! 
How's  that? 

CHAUCER 

Dame  Alisoun,  it  is  enough. 

ALISOUN 

Why,  then,  it  is  enough.     Come,  lad  ;  clap  hands. 
1 1  am  a  bud  of  old  experience, 

Whom  frost  ne'er  yet  hath  nipped.  In  love,  I've  danced 
The  waltz  and  minuet.     Therefore,  sweet  Geoffrey, 
This  Prioress  wears  a  brooch  upon  her  wrist. 

CHAUCER 

Well,  what  of  that  ? 

ALISOUN 

Yea,  "  What  of  that  ?  "     Good  soul ! 
She  stops  to-morrow  at  Bob-up-and-down. 

CHAUCER 

How  knowest  thou  ? 

ALISOUN 

Nay,  t'other  ear  is  wise. 
At  the  One  Nine-pin  she  shall  meet  — 


CHAUCER 

Her  brother. 


46  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
What  wilt  thou  bet  she  goes  to  meet  her  brother  ? 

CHAUCER 

Why,  anything. 

ALISOUN 

Hear  that !     As  though  a  veil 
Were  perfect  warrant  of  virginity. 
Wl^at  wilt  thou  bet  she  goeth  not  to  meet 
Her  leman  —  aye,  her  lover? 

CHAUCER 

Thou  art  daft. 

ALISOUN 

Lo,  subtle  man !     He  robs  a  poor  wife's  wits 
To  insure  his  lady's  honour. 

CHAUCER 

Tush,  tush,  dame. 

The  very  brooch  she  wears,  her  brother  gave  her, 
For  whose  sake  she  hath  even  promised  never 

To  take  it  off. 

ALISOUN 

Wilt  bet  me  ? 

CHAUCER 

Bet  away ! 

ALISOUN 

Ho,  then,  it  is  a  bet,  and  this  the  stakes  : 
If  that  my  Lady  Prioress  shall  give 
Yon  brooch  of  gold  from  off  her  pretty  wrist, 
Unto  the  man  whom  she  expects  to  meet, 
And  that  same  man  prove  not  to  be  her  brother, 
Then  thou  shalt  marry  me  at  Canterbury. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  47 

CHAUCER 

A  twenty  of  thee,  dame.     But  if  thou  lose 
The  stakes,  then  thou  shalt  kneel  a-down  and  kiss 
Yon  brooch  of  gold  upon  her  pretty  wrist, 
And  pray  the  saints  to  heal  thy  jealousy. 

ALISOUN 
Aye,  man,  it  is  a  bet ;  and  here's  my  fist. 

CHAUCER 
And  here's  mine,  Alis ;  thou  art  a  good  fellow. 

\_An  uproar  outside.~] 
What  row  is  this  ? 

ALISOUN 

Here  comes  my  rendezvous. 

\_Enter  in  tumult,  the  Friar,  Miller,  Cook,  Shipman,  Sum- 
moner,  and  Manciple,  holding  fast  to  one  another's  ears. 
They  call  out,  partly  in  chorus.~\ 

FRIAR 
He's  nabbed,  sweet  Alisoun. 


MILLER 

Here  is  the  lousel. 


SUMMONER 

I've  got  his  quids. 

COOK 

I  stalled  him. 

ALISOUN 

Hang  fast,  hold  him ! 
Ho !  fetch  him  down.    [Laughing.']    O  Geoffrey,  here's 

a  wooing ! 

CHAUCER 

Yea ;  "  Amor  vincit  omnia." 


48  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALL  THE  SWAINS 

Here  he  is ! 

ALISOUN 

Leave  go. 

\_They  let  go  ears.~\ 

Where  is  the  knave  ? 

ALL 

[Pointing  at  one  another. ,] 
There. 

ALISOUN 

Which  one  ? 

ALL 
\_Pointing  at  one  another  J\ 

Him 
ALISOUN 

So,  so  !     Hath  Peggy  jilted  all  of  ye, 
That  took  such  pains  to  grow  you  asses'  ears  ? 
Fie !     Peg's  a  jade  —  come  back  to  Alisoun ; 
She'll  learn  ye  the  true  dance  of  love. 

ALL 

The  devil ! 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  Robin  Huberd,  Roger  —  lads,  chirk  up. 
These  be  the  thorny  steps  of  Purgatory 
That  lead  ye  to  your  Beatrice  of  Bath. 
When  ye  attain  unto  her  t'other  ear  — 
\They  groan. ~\ 

FRIAR 

We  have  attained  unto  it. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  49 

ALISOUN 
[To  Chaucer. ,] 

Go  thy  ways ! 
\_Draws  them  aside^\ 

Come  here,  sweethearts  !     Hark  !     I  have  made  a  bet 
With  goodman  Geoffrey  yonder.     Him  as  helps 
Me  best  to  win  my  bet,  by  God !  he  shall 
Make  merry  for  my  marriage.     Come,  which  fellow 
Will  help  me  ? 

ALL 

I! 

ALISOUN 

The  best  shall  make  me  bride. 
\_A  kitchen-boy  blows  a  horn.~\ 

BOY 

\_Shouts.~] 
Meat! 

[Servants  enter  with  steaming  trenchers  ;  the  other  pilgrims 
come  in  and  seat  themselves  at  the  table.  The  Prioress 
stands  hesitating.  Chaucer  goes  to  meet  her.  ~\ 

HOST 

\_Rises  on  a  bench^\ 
Lordings,  who  goes  to  Canterbury  ? 

ALL 

I! 

CHAUCER 

[  Offers  his  arm  to  the  Prioress.] 
Madame,  will  you  vouchsafe  to  me  the  honour  ? 


50  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 

[  With  a  stately  courtesy '.] 
Merci. 

ALISOUN 

[Imitating  the  Prioress,  takes  his  other  arm.~\ 
Merci ! 

[  Chaucer  escorts  them  both  to  the  table,  where  he  sits  between 
them-\ 

HOST 

Lordings !     Now  hearkneth  to  a  merry  game. 
To-morrow  when  you  canter  by  the  way 
It  is  no  mirth  to  ride  dumb  as  a  stone. 
I  say  —  let  every  fellow  tell  a  tale 
To  short  the  time,  and  him  as  tells  the  best 
You'll  give  a  supper  here  when  ye  return. 
Lo  !  I  myself  will  ride  with  you  and  judge. 
If  ye  assent,  hold  up  your  hands. 

ALL 

Aye !     Aye ! 

HOST 

To-morrow  then  to  Canterbury ! 

ALL 

To  Canterbury ! 

[Amid  the  babbling  din  of  eating,  drinking,  and  laughter, 
Alisoun  leans  across    Chaucer's  trencher  towards  the 

Prioress.'} 

ALISOUN 

Who  is  the  lean  wench,  Geoffrey  ? 

PRIORESS 

By  St.  Loy ! 

Explicit  pars  prima. 


ACT   SECOND 

"  WHAN  that  Aprille  with  his  shoures  sote 
The  droghte  of  Marche  hath  perced  to  the  rote, 
And  bathed  every  veyne  in  swich  licour, 
Of  which  vertu  engendred  is  the  flour ; 
Whan  Zephirus  eek  with  his  swete  breeth 
Inspired  hath  in  every  holt  and  heeth 
The  tendre  croppes,  and  the  yonge  sonne 
Hath  in  the  Ram  his  halfe  cours  y-ronne, 
And  smale  fowles  maken  melodye, 
That  slepen  al  the  night  with  open  ye, 
(So  pricketh  hem  nature  in  hir  corages)  : 
Then  longen  folk  to  goon  on  pilgrimages." 


ACT    II 

TIME:  April  igth.     The  afternoon. 

SCENE  :  Garden  of  the  One  Nine-pin  inn  at 
the  little  hamlet  of  Bob-up-and-down,  en 
route  to  Canterbury. 

Right,  the  inn,  with  door  opening  into  garden.  Back,  a  wall 
about  chin-high  in  which  is  a  wicket  gate.  The  wall  is 
newly  greened  over  with  honeysuckle  and  rose-vines, 
which  are  just  beginning  to  blossom.  Left,  an  arbour 
of  the  same.  Right  front,  a  rough  table  and  chair. 
Behind  the  garden  wall  runs  the  highway,  beyond  which 
stretches  a  quiet  rolling  landscape,  dotted  with  English 
elms  and  hedgerows. 

When  the  curtain  rises,  the  scene  is  empty.  There  is  no  sound 
except  the  singing  of  birds,  and  the  hum  of  a  loom  inside 
the  inn.  Then,  away  to  the  left,  is  heard  a  bagpipe  playing. 
It  draws  nearer.  Behind  the  wall,  then,  against  the  green 
background  of  Spring,  pass,  in  pageant,  the  CANTERBURY 
PILGRIMS  on  horseback.  Among  the  last,  astride  her 
ambler,  rides  the  WIFE  OF  BATH,  telling  her  tale,  in  the 
group  with  CHAUCER  and  the  PRIORESS.  Behind  her 
follow  the  Swains,  the  MILLER  playing  the  bagpipe. 
Last  rides  the  REEVE. 

Behind  the  scene,  they  are  heard  to  stop  at  the  inn  and  call 
for  hostlers.  The  bustle  of  arrival,  horses  led  across  a 
stone  court,  laughter  and  abuse,  —  these  sounds  are  suf- 
53 


54  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ficiently  remote  to  add  to  the  reigning  sense  of  pleasant 
quietness  in  the  garden.  Through  the  door  of  the  inn 
enters  CHAUCER,  alone;  in  his  hand,  some  parchments. 
He  enters  with  an  abandon  of  glad-heartedness,  half 
reading  from  his  parchments. 

CHAUCER 

"  When  that  April  with  his  sunny  showers 
Hath  from  the. drought  of  March  the  dreamy  powers 
Awaked,  and  steeped  the  world  in  such  sweet  wine 
As  doth  engender  blossoms  of  the  vine ; 
When  merry  Zephirus,  with  his  soft  breath, 
In  every  hedge  and  heath  inspireth 
The  tender  greening  shoots,  and  the  young  Sun 
Hath  half  his  course  within  the  Ram  y-run, 
And  little  birds  all  day  make  melody 
That,  all  night  long,  sleep  with  an  open  ee, 
(So  Nature  stirs  'em  with  delicious  rages) 
Then  folk  they  long  to  go  on  pilgrimages  —  " 

-*  SQUIRE 

\_Comes from  the  inn.~\ 
Dan  Chaucer !     Master  Chaucer  ! 

CHAUCER 

Signorino  ! 
SQUIRE 

Sir,  what  a  ride !     Was  ever  such  a  ride 
As  ours  from  London  ?     Hillsides  newly  greened, 
Brooks  splashing  silver  in  the  small,  sweet  grass, 
Pelt  gusts  of  rain  dark'ning  the  hills,  and  then 
Wide  swallowed  up  in  sunshine !     And  to  feel 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  55 

My  snorting  jennet  stamp  the  oozy  turf 

Under  my  stirrup,  whilst  from  overhead 

Sonnets  shook  down  from  every  bough.     Oh,  sir,   • 

Rode  Caesar  such  a  triumph  from  his  wars 

When  Rome's  high  walls  were  garlanded  with  girls  ? 

CHAUCER 

Boy,  let  me  hug  thee ! 

SQUIRE 

Noble  sir ! 

CHAUCER 

[Embracing  him.~] 

A  hug! 

Spring  makes  us  youths  together.     On  such  a  day 
Old  age  is  fuddled  and  time's  weights  run  down. 
Hark! 

[A  cuckoo  sounds  ;  they  listen.~\ 

The  meadow  is  the  cuckoo's  clock,  and  strikes 
The  hour  at  every  minute ;  larks  run  up 
And  ring  its  golden  chimes  against  the  sun. 

SQUIRE 

Sir,  only  lovers  count  the  time  in  heaven. 
Are  you  in  love,  too  ? 

CHAUCER 

Over  head  and  heart. 

SQUIRE 
Since  long  ? 

CHAUCER 

These  forty  years. 


$6  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SQUIRE 

Nay,  is  your  mistress 
So  old  ? 

CHAUCER 

She's  still  kind. 

w 

SQUIRE 

Kind,  yet  old  !     Nay,  what's 
Her  name  ? 

CHAUCER 

Hush,  she  will  hear  thee. 

SQUIRE 

Hear  me  ? 

CHAUCER 

\Mysteriously.  ] 

Hush! 

Mine  own  true  mistress  is  sweet  Out-of-doors. 
No  Whitsun  lassie  wears  so  green  a  kirtle, 
Nor  sings  so  clear,  nor  smiles  with  such  blue  eyes, 
As  bonny  April,  winking  tears  away. 
Not  flowers  o'  silk  upon  an  empress'  sleeve 
Can  match  the  broidery  of  an  English  field. 
No  lap  of  amorous  lady  in  the  land 
Welcomes  her  gallant,  as  sweet  Mistress  Earth 
Her  lover.     Let  Eneas  have  his  Dido ! 
Daffydowndilly  is  the  dame  for  me. 

PRIORESS 
^Within.-} 
Joannes ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  57 

SQUIRE 

You  are  happy,  sir,  to  have 
Your  mistress  always  by  you.     Mine's  afar 
Turning  the  Italian  roses  pale  with  envy, 

CHAUCER 

She  dwells  in  Italy  ? 

SQUIRE 
In  Padua. 

CHAUCER 

In  Padua  ?     Why,  there  I  knew  Dan  Petrarch, 
Whose  sonnets  make  the  world  love-sick  for  Laura. 

SQUIRE 

Would  I  could  make  it  sigh  once  for  my  lady ! 
Sir,  will  you  help  me  ? 

CHAUCER 

Gladly ;  what's  her  name  ? 

SQUIRE 

Alas  !     Her  name  is  not  poetical : 
Johanna !     Who  can  sonnetize  Johanna  ? 

CHAUCER 

Invent  her  one  to  please  you. 

SQUIRE 

Euphranasia  — 
How  like  you  Euphranasia,  sir  ? 


58  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

FRIAR 
[Aside,  popping  his  head  from  behind  the  wall.'] 

Qui  la  ? 

[Dodges  down  again. ,] 

PRIORESS 
[  Within,  singing.'} 

Laudate,  pueri,  Dominum  ;  laudate  nomen  Domini ! 
Nay,  Paulus,  I  will  sing  :  'tis  pretty  weather. 

SQUIRE 
Euridice  or  Helena  ? 

PRIORESS 
[Sings  within.~] 

A  solis  ortu   usque   ad  occasum,   laudabile  nomen 
Domini. 

SQUIRE 
Or.Thisbe? 

CHAUCER 

[Lifting  a  sprig  of  honeysuckle  on  the  wall.'] 
Nay,  boy,  this  spray  shall  name  her. 

[The  Friar  peeps  over  the  wall  again.'} 

SQUIRE 

Eglantine ! 

Music  itself !     Methinks  I  have  an  aunt 
Named  Eglantine.     What  matter  ?  —  Eglantine ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  59 

CHAUCER 

I'll  match  that  name  against  the  Muses  nine. 
\_Takes  out  his  parchments.  ~\ 

SQUIRE 
What!  verses? 

CHAUCER 
Scraps  of  prologue  to  a  book 
I  think  to  call  "The  Canterbury  Tales." 
Good  boy,  leave  me  a  bit  ;  I  have  the  fit 
To  rhyme  for  a  time  thy  Donna  Eglantine. 
Come  back  at  chapel-bell,  or  send  someone 
To  fetch  the  verses. 

SQUIRE 

Sir,  I  will. 

\_Exit  left.'} 

FRIAR 

Me  voila  ! 

\_Exit  right,  behind  wall.~\ 

CHAUCER 
[Reading  from  one  of  his  parchments,  crosses  over  by  the 


"  There  was  also  a  nun,  a  prioress, 

That  of  her  smiling  was  full  simple  and  coy  ; 

The  greatest  oath  she  swore  was  '  by  St.  Loy  !  ' 

And  she  was  cleped  Madame  Eglantine  ; 

Full  daintily  she  sung  the  psalms  divine  ; 

And  French  she  spake  (St.  Patrick  taught  her  how), 

After  the  school  of  Stratford-at-the-Bowe. 


60  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

Full  prettily  her  wimple  pinched  was, 

Her  nose  piquante ;  her  eyes  as  grey  as  glass ; 

Her  mouth  full  small,  and  thereto  soft  and  red ; 

In  very  sooth  she  had  a  fair  forehead  ; 

And  dangling  from  her  dainty  wristlet  small, 

A  brooch  of  gold  she  wore,  and  therewithal 

Upon  it  there  was  writ  a  crowned  A, 

And  after  — 

\_Enter,  right,  the  Prioress,  carrying  her  little  hound.    Chau 
cer  sees  her.~\ 

Amor  vincit  omnia." 
\_He  enters  the  arbour.~\ 

PRIORESS 

Joannes,  stay  indoors  and  tell  your  beads. 
{To  her  littk  hound.'} 

Jacquette,  ma  petite,  it  is  a  pretty  day. 

See  you  those  clouds  ?     They  are  St.  Agnes'  sheep  ; 

She  hath  washed  their  wool  all  white  and  turned  'em 

loose 

To  play  on  heaven's  warm  hillside.     Smell  that  rose  ? 
Sweet — sweet!  n'est  ce  pas,  ma  petite?     Hast  ever 

heard 
The  Romance  of  the  Rose  ? 

CHAUCER 
[Aside.] 

Saints ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  6l 

PRIORESS 

Tis  a  tale 

As  lovely  as  the  flower,  —  writ  all  in  verses 
Dan  Chaucer  made  at  court.     Hush,  hush,  don't  tell : 
I've  read  it.     Ah  !  Jacquette  !  Jacquette  !  Jacquette  ! 
When  Mary  was  a  girl  in  Joseph's  garden, 
Were  there  such  pretty  days  in  Palestine  ? 
{Picks  a  rose.~\ 

CHAUCER 

Gods  !  must  I  hand  her  over  —  to  a  brother ! 
Alas !  the  sands  of  dreams,  how  fast  they  slip 
Till  Geoffrey  lose  his  Lord-protectorship. 

PRIORESS 

[Plucking  the  rose's  petals  till  the  last  petal  falls .] 
Pater  noster  (our  Father),  qui  es  in  coelis  (which  art 
in  heaven),  sanctificetur  nomen  tuum  (hallowed  be  thy 
name).    Adveniat  regnum  tuum  (thy  kingdom  come) ; 
fiat  voluntas  tua  —  thy  will  be  done ! 

A 
CHAUCER 

Amen  !     I  must  resign ! 

[He  is  about  to  step  out  from  the  arbour  and  discover  him 
self,  but  pauses  as  the  Prioress  continues.] 

PRIORESS 

Alas !     We  must  go  seek  my  brother  and  so 
Quit  the  protection  of  this  noble  stranger. 
You  know,  Jacquette,  we  must  be  fond  of  him. 
He  saved  your  life  —  we  mustn't  forget  that. 


62  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

And  though  the  wastel-bread  was  underdone, 
He  was  most  kind  at  table,  and  inquired 
After  your  health,  petite.     And  though  he  kissed 
The  ale-wife  —  oui,  ma  pauvre  Jacquette  !  —  yet  he 
Is  contrite,  and  will  seek  St.  Thomas'  shrine 
For  absolution. 

CHAUCER 

Forgive  us  our  trespasses ! 

PRIORESS 

He  was  so  courteous,  too,  upon  the  road 
I'm  sure  he  is  a  gentleman.     Indeed, 
I  hope  my  brother  proves  as  true  a  knight, 
When  he  arrives. 

CHAUCER 

Deliver  us  from  temptation  ! 
\_A  shout  from  the  pilgrims  within .] 

PRIORESS 

Would  he  were  here  now.  —  Nay,  I  mean — the  other. 
This  April  day  flowed  sweet  as  a  clear  brook 
Till  these  hoarse  frogs  jumped  in  to  rile  its  silver. 

SWAINS 
[Sing,  within.~] 
The  Wife  of  Bath 

She's  a  good  fellow, 
A  maiden  mellow 
Of  Aftermath. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  63 

PRIORESS 
Vite,  vite,  ma  petite. 

[She  has  fens  to  the  arbour,  where  Chaucer  quickly  pretends  to 
be  absorbed  in  writing.  As  she  is  withdrawing  hastily, 
however,  he  turns  round.~\ 

Monsieur,  excusez  moi ! 

CHAUCER 

Madame,  the  fault  is  mine ;  I  crave  your  pardon. 

PRIORESS 
What  fault,  Monsieur  ? 

CHAUCER 

[Breaks  a  spray  from  the  arbour  and  hands  it  to  her.~\ 

I  trespass  in  your  bower. 
Permettez. 

PRIORESS 

Honeysuckle  ? 

CHAUCER 

So  'tis  called ; 
But  poets,  lady,  name  it  —  eglantine. 

PRIORESS 

M'sieur ! 

CHAUCER 

-     May  I  remain  and  call  it  so  ? 


64  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 
M'sieur  —  this  is  Jacquette,  my  little  hound. 

[  Chaucer  takes  the  pup  ;  they  retire  farther  into  the  arbour 
as  the  WIFE  OF  BATH  enters  from  the  inn.  She  is  accom 
panied  by  the  FRIAR,  MILLER,  COOK,  SUMMONER,  PAR 
DONER,  MANCIPLE,  and  SHIPMAN,  who  enter  singing.  They 
lift  her  upon  the  table,  and  form  a  circle  round  her.~\ 

SWAINS 

The  Wife  of  Bath 

She's  a  good  fellow, 

A  maiden  mellow 
Of  Aftermath. 

She  cuts  a  swath 

Through  sere-and-yellow ; 
No  weeping  willow 

Bestrews  her  path. 

Her  voice  in  wrath 

Is  a  bullock's  bellow ; 
For  every  good  fellow 

Eyes  she  hath. 

She's  a  good  fellow, 
The  Wife  of  Bath  ! 

ALISOUN 

Sweethearts,  your  lungs  can  blow  the  buck's  horn.  — 

Robin, 
Ye  sing  like  a  bittern  bumbling  in  the  mire. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  65 

MILLER 
3y  Corpus,  'twas  a  love-toot. 

FRIAR 

Prithee,  sweet  dame, 
rinish  your  tale. 

ALL 

Finish  the  tale. 
\_Other  pilgrims  enter  from  the  inn.~\ 

ALISOUN 

Shut  up,  lads.     Sure,  my  wits  are  gone  blackberrying. 
Where  was  I  ? 

FRIAR 

Where  King  Arthur's  knight  came  home, 
You  said,  and  — 

ALISOUN 
Will  you  let  me  say  it  then  ? 

FRIAR 

Sweet  dame,  you  said  — 

ALISOUN 

A  friar  and  a  fly 
Will  fall  in  every  dish,  that's  what  I  said. 
Lads,  will  ye  hear  this  church-bell  ring,  or  me  ? 

ALL 

You  —  you  — 

SUMMONER 
I'll  muffle  his  clapper. 


66  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

Hark  my  tale 

This  knight  rode  home  a-whistlin'  to  himself, 
Right  up  the  castle-hall,  where  all  the  lords 
And  ladies  sat.     "  Your  majesties,"  quoth  he, 
"  Though  I  be  hanged,  this  is  my  true  reply  : 
Women  desire  to  do  their  own  sweet  wills." 

[The  Swains  clap.~\ 

"  Ho  !  "  cried  King  Arthur,  "  that's  the  best  I've  hearc 
Since  I  was  first  henpecked  by  Guinevere. 
Depart !     Thy  neck  is  free  !  " 

But  at  that  word, 

Up  sprang  an  old  wife,  sitting  by  the  fire, 
And  says  :    "  Merci,  your  Majesty,  'twas  I 
That  taught  this  answer  to  the  knight ;  and  he 
Hath  sworn  to  do  the  next  thing  I  require. 
Therefore,  sweet  knight,  before  this  court  I  pray 
That  ye  will  take  me  to  your  wedded  wife. 
Have  I  said  false  ? " 

"  Nay,  bury  me,"  quoth  he. 
"  Then  I  will  be  thy  love." 

"  My  love  ? "  quoth  he. 
"Nay,  my  damnation ! " 

"  Take  your  wife  to  church, 
Cries  out  the  King,  "  and  look  ye  treat  her  well, 
Or  you  shall  hang." 

MILLER 
Ho !     What  a  roast ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  67 

PRIORESS 

[  Aside.'] 

Poor  man ! 

ALISOUN 

The  knight  he  spake  no  word,  but  forth  he  takes 
His  grizzly  bride  to  church,  and  after  dark 
He  leads  her  home.     "Alas!  sweet  husband  mine, 
What    troubleth    you?"     quoth    she.      "Nothing," 

quoth  he. 

"  Perchance  that  I  am  old  ? "  "  Nay,  nay,"  quoth  he. 
"Ugly  and  old,"  quoth  she,  "cures  jealousy." 
"  It  doth  indeed,"  quoth  he.  "  What  then  ?  "  quoth  she. 
"  Are  ye  content  ?  "     "  More  than  content,"  quoth  he ; 
"  And  will  ye  let  me  do  my  own  sweet  will 
In  everything?  "     "  In  everything,"  quoth  he, 
"  My  lady  and  my  love,  do  as  you  please." 
"  Why,  then,  so  please  me,  strike  a  light,"  quoth  she. 
And  when  the  knight  had  lit  the  candle,  lo ! 
His  grizzly  bride  —  she  was  the  Fairy  Queen. 
[Loud  acclamation.'] 

PRIORESS 
[Aside.'] 
Praise  heaven ! 

FRIAR 

[Into  whose  arms  Alls oun  jumps. ~\ 
Bravo,  Queen  Mab,  it  was  thyself. 

COOK 

I'll  bet 

The  knight  was  her  fifth  husband. 


68  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

Welcome  the  sixth ! 
God  made  me  the  King  Solomon  of  wives. 

SHIPMAN 

[  To  the  Miller,  who  begins  to  play  his  pipes. ~] 
God  save  thee,  Robin  !     Bust  thy  pigskin. 

ALISOUN 

Aye! 
Let's  have  an  elf  dance.     Come ! 

\To  the  Summoner.~\ 

Thy  arm,  sweet  Puck ! 

BOTTLEJOHN 

[  To  Herry  Bailey,  who  is  looking  on.~\ 
Tarry  ye  all  to-night  ? 

HOST 

Aye,  till  to-morrow. 

BOTTLEJOHN 

'Twill  be  a  pinch  for  room. 

HOST 
[Laughs.~\ 

But  not  for  reckonings. 

\_The  Miller,  sitting  on  the  wall,  plays  his  bagpipe,  while 
Alisoun  dances  with  her  Swains,  each  of  whom  is  jealous 
of  the  rest.  Chaucer  and  the  Prioress  still  remain  out 
of  sight  in  the  arbour.  As  the  music  grows  merrier, 
the  Prioress  begins  to  click  the  beads  of  her  rosary 
rhythmic  ally. ~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  69 

CHAUCER 
Why  do  you  tell  your  beads,  Madame  ? 

PRIORESS 

To  keep 
The  fairies  from  my  feet. 

CHAUCER 

The  fairies  ? 

PRIORESS 

Yes, 
The  bagpipe  sets  them  free.      I  feel  them  twitch  me. 

CHAUCER 
Why  drive  them  away  ? 

PRIORESS 

Monsieur ! 

CHAUCER 

See  you  the  birds  ? 
St.  Francis  taught  that  we  should  learn  of  them. 

PRIORESS 
What  do  they  ? 

CHAUCER 

Sing,  and  dance  from  bough  to  bough. 
The  Muses  sing ;  and  St.  Cecilia  danced. 

PRIORESS 

Think  you  she  danced,  sir,  of  her  own  sweet  will  ? 


70  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 
Nay,  not  in  April !     In  April,  'tis  God's  will. 

PRIORESS 

Monsieur  — 

\_Gives  Chaucer  her  hand  shyly. ~] 

'tis  April. 

[  They  dance,  in  stately  fashion,  within  the  arbour.  Forget 
ting  themselves  in  the  dance,  however,  they  come  a  little 
too  far  forward ;  Alisoun  spies  them,  and  clapping  her 
hands,  the  music  stops^\ 

ALISOUN 

Caught !     Ho,  turtle-doves  ! 
Come  forth,  Sir  Elvish  Knight,  Sir  Oberon  ! 
Fetch  forth  thy  veiled  nymph,  that  trips  so  fair. 
[  Chaucer  steps  forth  from  the  arbour.     The  Prioress,  within, 
seizes  up  her  little  hound  from  a  settle  and  hides  her 

face.-] 

ALL 

Hail !. 

CHAUCER 

Silence,  loons  !     And  thou,  wife,  hold  thy  tongue 
And  know  thy  betters.     As  for  you,  ye  lummocks, 
You  need  be  proud  as  water  in  a  ditch 
To  glass  this  lady's  image  even  in  your  eyes, 
So,  look  ye  muddy  not  her  sandal-tips. 
Begone  !     And  mind  when  next  you  laugh  the  same, 
That  all  the  saints,  to  whom  you  bumpkins  pray, 
Dance  with  the  Virgin  round  the  throne  of  God. 
Begone,  and  do  your  reverences. 
[Some  of  the  pilgrims  retire;  others  remain  staring  and  bow 

as  the  Prioress,  veiled,  crosses  over  to  the  inn  door  with 

her  little  hound.~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  71 

ALISOUN 
\To  the  Cook.'] 

Hist,  Roger ! 

What  is  the  man  ? 

COOK 

No  cheap  dough. 

PRIORESS 

O  Tacquette ! 
[JBwfc] 

ALISOUN 

[Approaches  Chaucer  tentatively^ 
God  save  thee,  man  !     I  ken  not  who  thou  art, 
But  him's  can  .curry,  down  a  ticklish  mare 
Like  me,  he  hath  a  backbone  in  his  bolster ; 
I  love  thee  better  for  't  —  Ay,  gang  thy  gait ; 
But,  bully  Geoffrey,  mind,  we  have  a  bet : 
Yea,  if  I  fry  thee  not  in  thine  own  grease 
And  cry  thee  tit  for  tat,  call  me  a  man. 
Man  lives  for  wit,  but  woman  lives  by  it.  — 
These  dancing  virgins ! 

[Exit,  followed  by  Friar. ~\ 

CHAUCER 

Clods  and  bumpkins  all ! 

MILLER 

[  Gets  in  Chaucer's  way  defiantly, ,] 
Sir  Oberon  — 

CHAUCER 

Stand  by ! 


/2  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

MILLER 

Lord  Rim-Ram-  Ruff  ! 
He  plays  the  courtier. 

{Bitterly.  ~\ 

Harkee,  Monsieur  Courtier, 
"  When  Adam  delved  and  Eve  span, 
Who  was  then  the  gentleman  ?  " 

CHAUCER 

Why,  Monsieur  Snake  ;  he  cherished  the  family  tree 
As  the  apple  of  his  eye.     In  view  of  which, 
Go  drink  a  pot  of  cider. 

{Throws  the  Miller  a  coinJ] 

MILLER 


'Save  your  Worship  ! 
[Exit  with  Swains,  ,] 

CHAUCER 

[Solus.'] 

"  When  Adam  delved  "  —  who  was  court-poet  then  ? 
Adam.     Who  was  Bob  Clodhopper  ?     Why,  Adam. 
Which,  then,  in  that  close  body  politic 
Perked  high  his  chin?     Which  doffed  and  ducked 

the  knee  ? 

Which  tanned  and  sweat  in  the  lean  furrow  ?    Which 
Spat  on  the  spade  —  and  wore  it  in  his  crest  ? 
Which  was  the  real  Adam  ?     Sly  Dame  Clay, 
If  paradox  died  not  in  Genesis, 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  73 

Let  me  not  fancy  Richard's  laureate 

Alone's  incognito.     Incognito 

Are  all  that  pass  in  nature's  pilgrimage, 

For  thou,  with  loamy  masks  and  flesh-tint  veils, 

Dost  make  us,  in  this  timeless  carnival, 

Thy  dupes  and  dancers,  ushering  the  courtier 

To  kiss  beneath  thy  glove  the  goose-girl's  hand, 

Or  snub,  behind  the  poor  familiar  rogue 

And  clown,  some  god  that  hides  in  Momus'  mask. 

Nay,  but  not  she  —  my  gentle  Prioress  ! 

Though  all  the  rest,  in  born  disguisements,  be 

Basted  and  togg'd  with  huge  discrepancy, 

She  wears  the  proper  habit  of  her  soul. 

Dear  God !  how  harmony  like  hers  unchains 

Delight  from  the  lugg'd  body  of  Desire 

To  sing  toward  heaven  like  the  meadow-lark, 

Till,  with  her  parting,  it  drops  dumb  again 

In  the  old  quag  of  flesh. 

Flesh,  Geoffrey  !     Fie ! 

What  need  to  guard  from  sight  the  poet  in  thee 
When  nature  thus  hath  hoop'd  and  wadded  him 
With  barracoons  of  paunch?     What  say,  thou  tun  ? 
Will  Eglantine  mistake  thee  for  Apollo, 
Thou  jewel  in  the  bloated  toad ;  thou  bagpipe 
Puff'd  by  the  Muse ;  thou  demijohn  of  nectar ; 
Thou  grape  of  Hebe,  over-ripe  with  rhyme ; 
Thou  lump  of  Clio,  mountain  of  Terpsichore ; 
Diogenes,  that  talkest  in  thy  tub  ! 
Fie,  Mother  Earth  !  —  Cling  not  about  my  waist 
As  if  I  were  a  weanling  sphere.     Fall  off ! 
Ye  gods !  that  kneaded  this  incongruous  dough 


74  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

With  lyric  leaven,  sweat  me  to  a  rake-handle 
Or  let  the  Muse  grow  fat ! 

[Exit.-] 

FRIAR 

[Outside,  sings. ~\ 
Ye  pouting  wenches,  pretty  wives, 

That  itch  at  weddings,  fairs,  and  wakes, 
For  trothal-rings  and  kissing-cakes, 
For  wristlets,  pins,  and  pearled  knives, 

Hither  trip  it ! 

To  peep  i'  the  friar's  farsed  tippet, 
Who  gently  for  sweet  sinners'  sakes  — 
[Enter  the  Friar  and  Alisounl\ 

ALISOUN 
Hush! 

[Going  to  the  cellar- door,  she  opens  it  and  ponders. ~] 

FRIAR 

Ben'cite ! 

(Thus  singeth  he.) 
Bene  —  benedicite ! 

ALISOUN 

Hold  thy  cock-crow !     My  wit's  working. 

FRIAR 

Nay, 
Thy  jealousy,  sweet  dame. 

[Sings.~\ 

Ye  lasses  jilted,  lovers  drooped, 
Rose-lip  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  75 

ALISOUN 

Shut  up  ! 

FRIAR 
\Sings  on.~\ 

Rose-lip,  White-brow,  Blue-eye,  Brown-tress, 
Confide  your  pretty  hearts  !     Confess 
To  the  pleasant  friar  :  trust  not  Cupid  — 

ALISOUN 

By  Peter  ! 
I  have  the  plan  ! 

FRIAR 


Love  is  a  liar, 

But  lovers  love  the  pleasant  friar, 
Who,  making  of  their  burdens  less  — 
\_Here  he  approaches  Alisoun  caressingly,  and  deftly  steals  a 
gold  pin  from  her  head-dress  .] 

ALISOUN 

\_Laughing  to  herself  ^\ 
Ha  !  that  shall  win  my  bet  ! 
What,  Huberd  ! 

FRIAR 
[Secreting  the  pin.~\ 

Ben'cite  ! 

(Thus  singeth  he.) 
Bene  —  benedicite  ! 

ALISOUN 
Wilt  thou  hear  my  plan  ? 


76  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

FRIAR 

Fair  Alis, 
I  would  console  thy  jealousy. 

ALISOUN 

Me  jealous ! 
Blest  be  thy  breech !     Who  of  ? 

FRIAR 
[Imitating  Chaucer  in  his  former  speech.~\ 

"  And,  thou,  wife,  hold 
Thy  tongue  and  know  thy  betters." 

ALISOUN 

Ho !  my  betters  ? 

That  little  snipper-snapper  of  a  saint 
He  praised  for  dancing  ring-around-the-rose-tree, 
When  honest  wives  are  damned  for  showing  their 

ankles  ? 

A  fig  for  her !  —  What,  him  !  a  walking  hay-cock 
That  woos  a  knitting-needle  of  a  nun  ! 
And  me !  that  when  I  was  to  home  in  Bath 
Walked  into  kirk  before  the  beadle's  wife  : 
My  betters  ?     Wait  until  I  win  my  .bet ! 


FRIAR 

What  bet? 

ALISOUN 

Canst  thou  be  mum  ? 

FRIAR 

Dame,  I  have  been 
A  bishop's  valet,  a  nun's  confidant, 
A  wife's  confessor,  a  maid's  notary  ; 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  77 

As  coroner,  I've  sat  in  Cheapside  inns 

When  more  than  wine  flowed.     This  breast  can  be 

dark 
As  Pharaoh's  chamber  in  the  pyramids. 

ALISOUN 

List  then :  Ye  wot  I  made  a  bet  last  night 
With  Geoffrey.     This  was  it :  Dame  Eglantine, 
Here  at  this  inn,  expects  to  meet  her  brother  — 

FRIAR 

You  mean  —  Dan  Roderigo. 

ALISOUN 

Aye ;  but  as 

She  hath  not  seen  him  since  she  was  a  child, 
She  hath  not  recognised  him.     He,  ye  ken, 
Doth  wear  a  ring  wi'  a  Latin  posy  in't. 

FRIAR 

I  know ;  'tis  "  Amor  vincit  omnia," 
The  same  as  on  her  brooch. 

ALISOUN 

There  hangs  my  bet. 

For  if  Dame  Eglantine  shall  give  yon  brooch 
Into  the  hands  of  any  but  her  brother, 
Then  Geoffrey  marries  me  at  Canterbury. 

FRIAR 
Diable !     Marries  thee  ? 


78  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

What  then,  dear  friend  ? 

Wouldst  thou  forswear  thy  celibate  sweet  vows 
To  buckle  on  a  wife  ? 

FRIAR 

Nay,  dame,  a  sister. 

ALISOUN 

A  sister  of  St.  Venus'  house  ?     Go  pray ! 
A  husband  is  my  holy  pilgrimage, 
And  Geoffrey  is  my  shrine. 

FRIAR 

Et  moi  ? 

ALISOUN 

"  Et  moi  ? " 

Thou  art  a  jolly  incubus.     Thou  shalt 
Help  me  to  catch  my  bird. 

\_Enter  the  Miller  by  the  wicket  gate, .] 

FRIAR 

Et  done  ? 

ALISOUN 

"Etdonc?" 
Why,  then,  I'll  give  a  farthing  to  the  friars. 

FRIAR 
Nay,  dame,  the  coin  of  Cupid  is  a  kiss. 

[Pleading.'] 
One  kiss  pour  moi.  —  At  Canterbury  —  un  baiser ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  79 

MILLER 

[Seizing  the  Friar.'] 
One  pasty,  eh  ?  thou  shorn  ape  ! 

FRIAR 

Alisoun ! 

MILLER 

By  Corpus  bones,  I'll  baste  thee ! 

ALISOUN 

Let  him  be ! 
Shame !     Wouldst  thou  violate  a  modest  friar  ? 

MILLER 

He  asked  thee  for  a  — 

ALISOUN 

Baiser.     Baiser  means 
In  Latin  tongue  a  blessing.     Not  so,  Huberd  ? 

FRIAR 

Dame,  from  thy  lips,  it  meaneth  Paradise. 

MILLER 
[Imitating  him.~\ 

Doth  it  in  thooth,  thweet  thir  ?  —  Thou  lisping  jay  ! 
Thou  lousy  petticoats ! 

ALISOUN 
[Suddenly  embracing  the  Miller;  whispers  to  him.~\ 

Whist !    Robin,  thou 

Art  just  in  the  nick.     I  have  a  plan.     Run  fast ; 
Fetch  here  the  other  lads,  and  bring  a  gag. 


80  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

MILLER 
A  gag  ?     For  him  ? 

ALISOUN 
Run  quick. 

MILLER 
\_Going.~] 

By  Corpus  arms 

FRIAR 
\_Taunting.~\ 
Mealy  miller,  moth-miller, 

Fly  away ! 

If  Dame  Butterfly  doth  say  thee  nay, 
Go  and  court  a  caterpillar ! 

MILLER 

[Laughing,  shakes  his  fist.  ~\ 
Ha,  ha !     By  Corpus  bones  ! 

\_Exif  at  gate. ~\ 

ALISOUN 

Now,  bird  ;  the  plot. 
I've  sent  him  for  a  gag. 

FRIAR 

A  gag  ?     What  for  ? 

ALISOUN 

To  win  my  bet,  of  course.     Tis  for  this  knight. 

FRIAR 

Thou  wilt  not  gag  a  knight  —  the  Prioress' 
Brother ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  8 1 

ALISOUN 

Hast  thou  forgot  I  bet  with  Geoffrey 
The  man  that  wears  the  ring  will  prove  to  be 
Dame  Virtue's  lover  ? 

FRIAR 

He  that  wears  the  ring  ? 
Methinks  I  smell :   but  who's  your  man  ? 

ALISOUN 

Sweet  owl, 

The  sunlight  hurts  thine  eyes,  thou  starest  too  hard. 
[Blindfolding  his  eyes  with  her  hands,  she  whirls  him  thrice 

round.~\ 
Behold  him. 

FRIAR 
\_Dizzity.~] 
Where  ? 
\_Alisoun  slaps  her  own  shoulder :"] 

What,  thou  ?     O  ecce  homo ! 
Thou  wilt  enact  the  lover  and  the  knight 
And  woo  Dame  Eglantine  ? 

ALISOUN 

Who  else  ?     Forsooth, 
I  am  a  shapely  crusader.     This  leg 
Hath  strode  a  palfrey  thrice  to  Palestine. 
I've  won  my  spurs. 

FRIAR 

Thou  wit  of  Aristotle. 
O  Helen  of  Troy  !     O  Amazon  !     I  catch  : 
Thou  gaggest  the  real  knight  and  bear'st  him  off 
Where  thou  mayst  steal  his  ring  and  togs. 


82  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

And  borrow 

A  false  beard  from  thy  tippet.     Thou  shalt  be 
My  valet,  and  retouch  the  Wife  of  Bath 
To  play  the  Devil  in  the  Mystery. 

FRIAR 

But  where'll  be  thy  boudoir  ? 

ALISOUN 

The  cellar  yonder. 
Bob  Miller  and  the  other  lads  shall  gag 

And  tie  him  there. 

FRIAR 

Why,  this  is  merrier  than 
Nine  wenches  ducking  in  a  Hallo w-een  bowl. 

[Doubling  over  with   laughter,  he   almost  knocks  against 
Chaucer,  who  enters,  left,  meditative^ 

Whist !    Geoffrey !     Come  away. 

CHAUCER 

\_Readsfrom  a  parchment."] 
"April,  May, 

Cannot  stay ; 

We  be  pilgrims  —  so  are  they, 
And  our  shrine, 
Far  away  —  " 

[A  bell  sounds  outside  ;  Chaucer  pauses,  and  draws  out  a 
pocket  sun-dial.'} 

The  chapel  bell ! 

Four,  by  my  cylinder.     My  signorino 
Will  claim  his  verses  ! 

[Reads  on.~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  83 

"  And  our  shrine, 

Far  away, 

Is  the  heart  of  Eglantine." 
\_Pauses  and  writes .] 

ALISOUN 
\_Aside  to  Friar. ~\ 

Eglantine  !     What's  this  ? 

FRIAR 

Love  verses.     He  hath  writ  them  for  the  Squire 
To  give  unto  his  lady-love  Johanna. 

ALISOUN 
But  he  said  "  Eglantine." 

FRIAR 

Aye,  dame ;  he  dubs 
Her  Eglantine  to  be  poetical. 

ALISOUN 

A  poet !     Him  ? 

FRIAR 

Why  not  ?     Jack  Straw  himself 
Could  ring  a  rhyme,  God  wot,  till  his  neck  was  wrung. 
CHAUCER 
\_Reads.~\ 
"  Eglantine, 
O  to  be 
There  with  thee, 

Over  sea, 

In  olive-shaded  Italy." 

Too   rough.     "Shaded"   is   harsh.     H'm !    "Olive- 
silvered." 
"In  olive-silvered  Italy."  —  That's  better. 


84  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

FRIAR 

\_To  Alisoun.~\ 
Hide  there ! 

ALISOUN 

What  now  ? 

FRIAR 

Watch. 
\The  Friar  approaches  Chaucer  obsequiously^ 

CHAUCER 
\_Reads.~] 

"  There  to  pray 
At  thy  shrine  —  " 

FRIAR 

Benedicite ! 
The  blissful  martyr  save  you,  sir. 

CHAUCER 

And  you. 

FRIAR 

The  gentle  Squire  sent  me  for  — 

CHAUCER 

His  verses  ? 
They  are  just  finished. 

\Folds  them  up.~\ 

FRIAR 

Sir,  you  see,  he  hailed  me 
Passing  upon  the  road.     He  lies  out  yonder 
Along  a  brookside,  sighing  for  his  lady. 

CHAUCER 

\_Handing  the  parchment  to  the  Friar. ~\ 
Bid  him  despatch  her  these.     Here,  wait ;  this  spray 
Of  eglantine  goes  with  them. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  85 

FRIAR 

Save  you,  sir. 

\_The  Friar  starts  for  the  wicket  gate.  Chaucer,  absent- 
minded,  passes  on  to  the  inn  door.  As  he  does  so,  the 
Friar,  treading  tip-toe  behind  him,  steals  another  parch 
ment,  which  is  sticking  from  his  pouch, ,] 

CHAUCER 
"  April,  May, 

Cannot  stay ; 

We  be  pilgrims  —  so  are  they." 
[Arffc] 

FRIAR 

[Stands  holding  the  second  parchment,  from  which  he  reads. ~\ 
"  There  was  also  a  nun,  a  prioress, 
That  of  her  smiling  was  full  simple  and  coy ; 
The  greatest  oath  she  swore  —  " 

Blessed  be  larceny ! 

This  rhyme  is  slicker  to  have  up  my  sleeve 
Than  five  aces  of  trumps. 

ALISOUN 
\_Joining  him.~\ 

What's  up  ? 

FRIAR 

List,  dame ! 

Of  human  hearts  I  am  an  alchemist. 
To  stir  them  in  the  crucible  of  love 
Is  all  my  research  and  experiment ; 
And  but  to  find  a  new  amalgam  makes 
My  mouth  to  water  like  a  dilettante's. 


86  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

Well  ? 

FRIAR 

Geoffrey  wrote  these  verses  for  the  Squire 
To  give  his  lady  ;  therefore,  /  will  give  them 
To  Eglantine,  and  watch  the  tertium  quid ; 
That  is  to  say,  whether  the  resultant  be 
A  mantling  coleur  rose,  or  —  an  explosion. 

ALISOUN 

What's  in  the  verses  ?     Nay,  man,  read  'em  out ; 
I  am  no  clerk. 

FRIAR 

7  am  a  master-reader. 
"  Sigh,  Spring,  sigh, 

Repine 

Amid  the  moon-kissed  eglantine, 
For  so  do  I." 
[The  Friar  sighs.'] 

ALISOUN 
No  more  o'  that. 

FRIAR 

Sweet  Alis,  'tis  the  art. 

When  I  look  thus,  —  'tis  moonlight.     When  I  sigh 
Thus,  —  'tis  a  zephyr  wooing  apple  blossoms. 

ALISOUN 

Wooing  a  sick  goat !     Read  ahead. 

FRIAR 

Ahem! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  87 

[Reads.'] 
"  April,  May, 
Cannot  —  " 

[Enter,  from  the  inn,  the  Knight;  from  the  wicket  gate,  the 
Swains,  with  ropes  and  a  gag.~\ 

ALISOUN 

Quit ;  here's  our  knight.     Go  find  the  Prioress. 
And  when  you've  given  her  the  verses,  join 
Me  and  the  other  fellows  in  the  cellar. 

[Jerking  her  thumb  at  the  Knight.~\ 
He'll  be  with  us. 

FRIAR 

Thy  valet  comprehends. 

KNIGHT 
[To  Friar. ,] 
Good  fellow,  have  you  seen  my  son,  the  Squire  ? 

FRIAR 

My  lord,  that  dame  can  tell  you. 

[Throwing  a  kiss  to  Alisoun.~\ 

Au  revoir ! 

[  Then  throwing  another  to  the  Miller,  he  sings  as  he  skips  out.~\ 
Ma  douce  gazelle, 
Ma  gazelle  belle, 
Bon  soir ! 

MILLER 

[To  the  Shipman.~\ 
Quick !     Head  him  off,  Jack ! 

[Exit  Friar  into  inn.~\ 


88  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

Let  him  go. 
\To  the  Miller.'} 

Thine  ear ! 

MILLER 

But  — 

ALISOUN 

Shh! 

[Draws  him  aside  and  whispers.'} 
Art  thou  afeard  ? 

MILLER 

Nay,  dame,  but  'tis 
A  lord.     Mayhap  we'd  catch  the  whipping-post 

ALISOUN 

But  mayhap  me  along  with  it,  sweet  Bob. 
{They  whisper  aside.'} 

KNIGHT 
This  woman  tell  me  of  my  son !     'Tis  strange. 

ALISOUN 

\Aside  to  Miller^ 
Ye  ken ! 

MILLER 

Aye,  aye. 

{Looking  pleased,  he  speaks  to  the  others  aside.  During  the 
following  scene,  all  of  them  approach  the  Knight  cau 
tiously  with  the  ropes  and  gag,  while  Alisoun,  distracting 
the  Knight,  warns  or  urges  them  in  pantomime.} 

KNIGHT 

Good  woman,  have  you  seen  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  89 

ALISOUN 

And  do  mine  eyes  behold  him  once  again  ? 
O  sir !     The  blissful  saints  requite  you,  sir ! 

KNIGHT 

For  what,  good  dame  ? 

ALISOUN 

His  voice  !     That  I  should  hear 
His  voice  once  more !     The  vision  bursts  again 
Upon  my  brain  :  the  swords,  the  sweated  horse, 
The  lifted  battle-mace,  and  then  his  arms, 
His  arms  around  me  —  saved ! 

\Falling  at  his  feet '.] 

Oh,  can  it  be  ? 
KNIGHT 

Madame,  arise.     We  met  last  night,  methinks, 
At  Master  Bailey's  inn,  in  Southwark,  but 
Never  before. 

ALISOUN 
{Rising^ 

Hold !     Gallop  not  so  fast, 
Ye  steeds  of  Memory !  —  Was  it  perchance 
A  lonely  damsel  by  the  Coal  Black  Sea, 
Forsaken  save  by  him  ;  or  was  it  by 
The  walls  of  old  Granada,  at  the  siege, 
When,  dazzled  by  the  white  star  of  my  beauty, 
He  raised  his  cross  to  smite  the  lustful  Moor, 
And  cried,  "  Don  Roderigo  dies  for  thee  !  " 

KNIGHT 
\To  the  Miller:} 
The  woman  is  ill.     You  had  best  call  a  leach. 


90  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

Call  no  one,  sir.     Forgive  my  sentiment. 
Small  wonder  is  it,  though  the  lordly  falcon 
Forget  the  dove  he  succoured  from  the  crows. 
But  ah !  how  can  the  tender  dove  conceal 
The  flutterings  of  her  snow-white  breast  to  meet 
Her  lord  once  more  ? 

KNIGHT 
[Going.] 

Madame,  I  wish  you  better. 

ALISOUN 

Dear  lord,  when  last  we  met  at  Algezir  — 

KNIGHT 
Pray  to  the  Virgin ! 

ALISOUN 
Sweet  lord !  — 

KNIGHT 

By  St.  George, 

I  know  you  not. 

ALISOUN 

Alas !     Alas !     The  faithless  ! 
Was  this  the  chivalry  ye  promised  me 
That  night  ye  kissed  me  by  the  soldan's  tent  ? 

KNIGHT 
Off  me,  thou  wife  of  Satan ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  91 

ALISOUN 

Heard  ye  that  ? 
Lads,  to  the  rescue ! 

KNIGHT 
Sorcery ! 

[The  Miller  and  Alisoun  gag  the  Knight,  while  the  others 
assist  in  binding  him.~\ 

ALISOUN 

Quick,  Roger! 

Take  off   his   finger-ring.     Mum,  sweethearts !     In, 

now ! 

[Exeunt  omnes,  carrying  the  Knight  into  the  inn  cellar.~\ 

[Enter  the  Squire  and  Johanna.     Passing  along  behind  the 

wall,  they  enter  the  garden  by  the  wicket  gate I\ 

SQUIRE 

Lady,  I  cannot  yet  believe  my  eyes 
That  you  are  here,  and  not  in  Padua. 

JOHANNA 

'Tis  sweet  to  hear  your  voice  discredit  mine, 
And  yet  I  pray  you,  sir,  believe  in  me ; 
I  would  not  prove  a  rich  Lombardian  dream 
To  be  more  fair  —  even  than  I  am. 


SQUIRE 

You  could  not. 

JOHANNA 

Grazie ! 


92  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SQUIRE 

For  you  authenticise  yourself 
With  beauty's  passport.     This  alone  is  you ; 
But  how  come  hither  ? 

JOHANNA 

Like  the  Spring,  because 
I  heard  the  snows  had  thawed  in  Merry  England. 

SQUIRE 

As  ever,  you're  fellow-travellers,  dear  lady ; 
I  might  have  guessed  it  from  the  little  birds, 
Your  gossipy  outriders.     But  with  what 
Less  winged  chaperones  came  you  ? 

JOHANNA 

Nay,  with  none ! 

Some  flighty  ladies  of  King  Richard's  court 
That  oped  their  beaks  —  but  not  like  nightingales  — 
To  prate  of  love.     For  my  part  when  I  saw  them 
This  morning  trot  away  toward  Canterbury      ^ 
With  that  dull  Gaunt  and  silly  Duke  of  Ireland, 
I  sighed  "sweet  riddance."    True,  the  king  is  different, 
But  he  is  married. 

SQUIRE 
You  are  not  alone  ? 

JOHANNA 

No,  sir.     I  travel  with  a  world-stormed  priest, 
Whom  all  who  love  him  call  "  Good  Master  Wycliffe  " ; 
And  those  who  love  him  not,  "  Old  Nick,"  for  writing 
The  gospels  in  dear  English. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  93 

SQUIRE 

You  —  a  Lollard ! 

JOHANNA 

Wait  till  you  know  him.     He  rides  now  to  assist 
High  mass  at  the  Cathedral,  for  Duke  John 
Who  sails  to  claim  his  kingdom  in  Castile. 
I  But  I  ride  with  him,  not  so  much  to  absolve 
|  My  sins,  —  which  frankly,  since  they  are  so  few 
I  And  serviceable,  I  hate  to  part  with  —  as 
I  go  to  look  on  one  shall  grace  that  service  — 
The  man  I  best  admire. 

SQUIRE 

Sweet  lady,  whom  ? 

JOHANNA 

Dan  Chaucer  —  laureate  of  chivalry. 

SQUIRE 

Chaucer !     Why  he  — 

[Checks  himself ^ 
Alas!   " 

JOHANNA 

Scarce  do  I  wonder 

To  see  you  bite  your  lip  at  that  great  name : 
You,  sir,  who  once,  unless  my  memory  fail, 
Did  promise  me  some  verses  of  your  own. 

SQUIRE 
Nay,  you  shall  have  them. 


94  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 

What  ?     The  verses  ? 

SQUIRE 

Yes 

JOHANNA 

Prithee,  what  are  they  ?     Rondeaux,  amoretti, 
Ballads?     Why   did   you   send   them   not?     Odes? 
Sonnets  ? 

Which  ? 

SQUIRE 

Nay,  I  know  not. 

JOHANNA 

Know  not  ? 

SQUIRE 

Not  as  yet. 
JOHANNA 
Know  not  as  yet ! 

SQUIRE 

I  mean  —  O  Donna  mine ! 
I  have  a  friend,  whom  but  to  call  my  friend 
Sets  all  my  thoughts  on  fire,  and  makes  the  world 
A  pent-up  secret  burning  to  be  told. 
Whose  slave  to  be,  I  would  roll  Sisyphus'  stone ; 
Whom  to  clasp  hands  withal,  I'd  fight  Apollyon ; 
For  whom  but  to  be  Pythias,  I  would  die. 

JOHANNA 

What  amorous  Platonics  !     Pythias  ? 

Sure,  Troilus  were  an  apter  choice.     Well,  sir, 

Who  is  this  paragon  ? 

[Aside.] 

Heaven  send  her  freckles. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  95 

SQUIRE 

,  if  it  were  allowed  me  but  to  name  — 
f  you  could  guess  the  Olympian  pedigree  — 

[Enter  Chaucer  from  the  innJ] 
A.h !     Here  he  comes ! 

JOHANNA 

Pray,  sir,  who  comes  ? 

SQUIRE 

My  friend. 

CHAUCER 

[Scanning  the  ground^] 
|I  would  not  for  good  twenty  pound  have  lost  it. 

JOHANNA 

Is  this  your  Damon  ? 

SQUIRE 

Lady,  'tis  my  friend. 

CHAUCER 
[To  himself. ~\ 

If  Madame  Eglantine  should  find  it,  read  it ! 
|  Nay,  not  for  forty  pound. 

SQUIRE 

He  does  not  see  us. 
May  I  present  him  ? 

JOHANNA 
[Nods  carelessly,  then  aside.'] 

Saints  !     Must  I  essay 
To  circumvent  a  rival  of  such  scope  ? 


96  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SQUIRE 
Great  sir ! 

JOHANNA 

"  Great  sir  "  's  a  proper  epithet 

SQUIRE 

\Touching  Chaucer's  sleeve. ~\ 
I  prithee  — 

CHAUCER 

Ah,  boy,  well  met !    Did  I  perchance  — 

\_Seeing  Johanna, ,] 
Pardon ! 

SQUIRE 
\Whispers  to  Chaucer,  then  aloud to  Johanna .] 

Permit  me  to  present  to  you  — 
Lady  Johanna,  Marchioness  of  Kent  — 
This  gentleman,  my  friend. 

JOHANNA 
\_Bows  slightly^ 

A  nameless  knight  ? 

SQUIRE 

\_Embarrassed.~\ 
His  name  —  ah! 

CHAUCER 

Master  Geoffrey,  and  your  servant. 

JOHANNA 
\To  Chaucer.'} 
We  saw  you  searching.     Was  it  for  a  sur-name  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  97 

SQUIRE 

Have  you  lost  something  ?     Let  us  help  you  find  it. 
A  purse  ? 

JOHANNA 

I  trust  your  loss  was  not  in  pounds. 

CHAUCER 

Sooth,  I  have  lost  what  fair  your  ladyship 
Could  least,  methinks,  supply  —  a  piece  of  wit 
Without  a  tongue ;  that  is,  a  piece  of  parchment 
Writ  o'er  with  verses. 

SQUIRE 

Verses  !     Sir,  a  word. 
\_Draws  Chaucer  aside  to  the  arbour  and  whispers '.] 

JOHANNA 
A  clever  rogue !     He'd  make  an  apt  court-fool. 

CHAUCER 
{Aside  to  SquireJ] 
No ;  these  lost  verses  were  a  mere  description  — 
To  fit  my  prologue  —  of  a  dainty  nun, 
Poking  some  gentle  mirth  at  her ;  of  use 
To  none  save  me ;  but  faith !  I  grudge  'em  dearly. 

SQUIRE 
Did  you  find  time  to  write  —  the  other  verses  ? 

CHAUCER 

The  others  ? 

SQUIRE 

To  my  lady. 


98  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 

Those  you  sent  for  ? 
Did  not  you  like  them  ? 

SQUIRE 
I  ?     I  sent  for  none,  sir. 

JOHANNA 
[Aside.'] 

Still  whispering  ?  Faith  !  Hath  my  Aubrey  lost 
Both  heart  and  manners  to  this  tavern  rhymester  ? 
I  will  not  have  it. 

SQUIRE 
[To  Chaucer.'} 
But  I  sent  no  friar ! 

CHAUCER 

He  took  your  mistress's  verses,  saying  you 
Had  sent  for  them  by  him. 

JOHANNA 

Excuse  me,  sirs : 

That  arbour-seat  has  room  for  two  to  sit, 
Providing  we  choose  wisely  from  us  three. 

CHAUCER 

Your  choice  is  fate. 

SQUIRE 
[Aside  to  Chaucer  as  they  enter  the  arbour.~\ 

The  friar  must  have  stolen  them. 

[Johanna  and  the  Squire  sit;  Chaucer  stands  talking  with 
them,  his  back  toward  the  arbour's  entrance."] 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  99 

\_Enter,  right,  from  -inn,  the  Prioress  and  Friar,  the  former 
reading  a  parchment^ 

PRIORESS 
The  verse  is  very  beautiful. 

FRIAR 

Is't  not 

1  Enough  to  make  the  Muse  weep  amber  ?     Zipp  ! 
Tis  honey'd  moonbeams  stored  in  lachrymals. 

PRIORESS 


"  Eglantine, 
O  to  be 
There  with  thee, 

Over  sea, 
In  olive-silvered  Italy." 

But,  gentle  friar,  why  in  Italy 
When  I'm  in  England  ? 

FRIAR 

Dame,  'tis  poetry. 
In  poetry,  all  ladies  have  blue  eyes 
And  live  in  Italy. 

PRIORESS 

And  is  this  truly 
For  me  ? 

FRIAR 

He  bade  me  give  it  with  this  spray. 


100  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 

[Taking  the  sprig  of  eglantine .] 
He  is  so  chivalrous !     But  I  must  finish. 
"In  olive-silvered  Italy. 

There  to  pray 
At  thy  shrine, 
There  to  lay 
This  green  spray 
Of  our  English  eglantine. 
At  thy  feet. 

Lady  mine, 
Then  wouldst  thou  say : 

*  Pilgrim  sweet 

In  Padua, 

Take  it;  it  is  thine.'" 
Is  Padua  short  for  Bob-up-and-down  ? 

FRIAR 

Yes,  dame. 

[Aside.] 

And  now  to  watch  my  experiment 
Precipitate  rose-colour. 

PRIORESS 
[Sighs.-] 

Almost  finished ! 
[Reads.'] 
"  Say  not  nay ! 
Fairest,  dearest,  far  away, 
Donna  Eglantine." 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  ioi 

FRIAR 

Alas,  Madame,  I  did  but  do  my  duty. 
He  bade  me  bring  them. 

PRIORESS 

From  my  heart,  I  thank  you. 
They're  very  beautiful. 

FRIAR 

But  amorous, 
I  fear ;  they  are  love- verses. 

PRIORESS 

Are  they  ?     Sure, 
I  thought  them  sweet.     He  is  so  chivalrous. 

FRIAR 

\_Aside,  takes  out  his  stolen  parchment^ 
Soft,  then,  I'll  try  the  other.     This  should  bring 

The  explosion. 

\_Rattles  the  parchment '.] 

PRIORESS 

[Eagerly,  laying  the  first  parchment  on  the  table. ~\ 
Did  he  send  more  verses  ? 

FRIAR 

Nay, 

He  sent  no  more,  though  from  his  pouch  there  fell 
This  parchment ;  but  methinks  he  would  desire  you 
Not  to  peruse  it. 

\Turning  as  if  to  leave,  he  discovers  the  three  conversing  in 
the  arbour  ^\ 


102  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 

Me! 

FRIAR 

Yes,  dame,  for  it 
Describes  you. 

PRIORESS 
How? 

FRIAR 

Alas !     In  different  vein 
From  the  other. 

PRIORESS 

Different  ? 

[Demanding  it  with  a  gesture^ 
Quickly ! 

FRIAR 

'Tis  my  duty. 
[Hands  her  the  manuscript^ 

PRIORESS 

[Snatching  it;  reads.~\ 
"  There  was  also  a  nun,  a  prioress, 
That  of  her  smiling  was  full  simple  and  coy ; 
The  greatest  oath  she  swore  was  '  by  St.  Loy ! '  " 
O  ciel !     O  quel  outrage ! 

[While  she  reads  on  to  herself,  changing  visibly  to  pique  and 
tears,  the  Friar,  purloining  the  first  parchment  from 
the  table,  trips  over  to  the  arbour's  entrance  and  bows.~\ 

FRIAR 

Diner  est  servi ! 

Messieurs,  you  are  awaited  by  a  lady. 
[Runs  off.~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  103 

CHAUCER 
{To  Squire. ~\ 
Quick  !    Catch  him  ! 

JOHANNA 
\To  Squire. ~\ 
Stay!     "A  lady?" 

[Pursued,  the  Friar  drops  his  parchment,  and,  as  the  Squire 
stops  to  pick  it  up,  escapes  at  the  garden  gate.~\ 

PRIORESS 
\_Holding  her  parchment,  confronts  Chaucer ^\ 

Stay,  Monsieur. 
[Reads.] 

"And  French  she  spake  (St.  Patrick  taught  her  how !)" 
You  hear,  Monsieur  —  "  St.  Patrick  taught  her  how !  " 
Oh,  where  is  my  Jacquette ! 

SQUIRE 
\_J°yfatty  f  glancing  at  the  other  parchment] 

These  are  the  verses  ! 
{Hands  the  parchment  eagerly  to  Johanna. ~] 

CHAUCER 
Madame,  be  calm.     I  will  explain. 

PRIORESS 

Non,  non. 

JOHANNA 
[Reads.'} 
"  Eglantine, 

O  to  be 
There  with  thee— " 

[To  Squire] 
Wrote  you  these  verses,  sir  ?     Who's  Eglantine  ? 


104  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SQUIRE 
Why,  lady,  she  — 

PRIORESS 

[To  Chaucer.'} 
How  could  you  write  them  ? 

CHAUCER 

Patience, 
Dear  Madame  Eglantine  — 

JOHANNA 

Ha !  Eglantine ! 

CHAUCER 

[To  Prioress,  distracted.] 
Which  verses  do  you  mean  ?     I  wrote  them  not 

To  you ! 

PRIORESS 

What,  not  to  me  ?     Those  gracious  lines, 
So  exquisite  ? 

CHAUCER 

Good  God ! 

SQUIRE 
[To  Johanna] 

Upon  my  truth, 
These  verses  are  for  you.     Let  me  explain  — 

JOHANNA 
Nay,  let  your  friend. 

[Showing  her  parchment  to  Chaucer] 

Sir,  did  you  write  these  verses  ? 

CHAUCER 

I  did! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  105 

PRIORESS 

[Showing  her  parchment.~\ 
And  these,  Monsieur  ? 

CHAUCER 

I  did. 

JOHANNA 

And  pray 
To  whom  did  you  write  these  f 

CHAUCER 

To  you. 

JOHANNA 

O  Heaven ! 

PRIORESS 

To  her! 

[  Unseen,  save  by  the  audience,  the  cellar  door  is  opened,  part 
way,  and  Alisoun  peers  out,  dressed  in  the  Knight's 
clothes,  but  still  without  a  make-up.  She  winks  to 
Huberd,  whose  head  bobs  up  a  moment  from  behind 

the  wall.~\ 

SQUIRE 

[To  Johanna."] 
Sweet  mistress  — 

JOHANNA 

I  demand  to  know 
Who  is  this  rhyming  man  ?     Who  was  his  father  ? 

CHAUCER 

My  father  was  a  vintner,  dame,  in  London. 

PRIORESS 
A  vintner  ? 

SQUIRE 

[  With  pleading  deprecation.~\ 
Sir  — 


106  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 
Small  marvel  that  his  son 

Should  be  a  cask. 

ALISOUN 

[Aside,  jubilantly. ~] 
God  save  my  betters ! 

JOHANNA 
[To  Squire^ 

"If 

You  could  but  guess  the  Olympian  pedigree  —  " 
Saints  !     Take  me  to  my  guardian,  sir. 

PRIORESS 
{To  Chaucer.'} 

Ah !  bring 

Me  to  my  brother  !     O  Monsieur !     How  false ! 

FRIAR 
[From  behind  the  wall,  sings.~] 

Love  is  a  liar, 

But  lovers  love  the  pleasant  friar, 
Who,  making  of  their  burdens  less  — 

CHAUCER  AND  SQUIRE 
That  friar ! 

FRIAR 

[Popping  his  head  above  the  wall  with  a  mock  gesture  of  bene 
diction,  sings. ~\ 

Ben'cite ! 

(Thus  singeth  he.) 
Bene  —  benedicite  ! 

Explicit  pars  secunda. 


ACT   THIRD 

"  WITE  ye  nat  wher  ther  stant  a  litel  toun 
Which  that  y-cleped  is  Bob-up-and-doun, 
Under  the  Blee,  in  Caunterbury  weye  ?  " 


ACT    III 

TIME  :  Evening  of  the  same  day. 

SCENE  :  The  hall  of  the  One  Nine-pin. 

At  the  opening  of  the  act  all  the  PILGRIMS  are  on  the  stage, 
except  the  following :  MILLER,  SHIPMAN,  COOK,  MANCIPLE, 
SUMMONER,  KNIGHT,  ALISOUN,  CHAUCER,  and  WYCLIFFE. 

Owing  to  the  overcrowding  of  the  little  inn,  the  hall  is 
arranged,  for  the  night,  as  a  common  sleeping-room. 
Up  stage,  right,  is  a  great  canopied  bedstead,  with  steps 
to  climb  into  it.  Along  the  right  wall  are  truckle-beds. 
As  the  curtain  rises,  a  clear  bell  is  heard  ringing  outside, 
slow  and  musical.  By  the  light  of  a  single  torch,  the 
Pilgrims  are  seen,  some  putting  on  their  cloaks  and 

t  hoods,  some  peering  from  behind  the  bed-curtains,  others 
taking  links  from  a  tap-boy,  who  distributes  them.  These, 
as  they  are  lit,  throw  an  ever  stronger  light  upon  the 
grouped  faces  and  contrasted  garbs  of  the  company. 
The  PARSON  is  just  waking  the  PLOUGHMAN,  who  drowses 
on  a  truckle-bed. 

PARSON 
Up,  brother ;  yon's  the  chapel  bell. 

PLOUGHMAN 

It  rings 

For  thee ;  thou  art  the  parson,  Jankin. 

109 


1 10  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PARSON 

Nay, 

The  preacher  will  be  Wycliffe,  old  good  Master 
De  Wycliffe. 

MERCHANT 

Old  good  Master  Weak-liver ! 

PARSON 

[Turns  angrily.'} 
Sir! 

MAN-OF-LAW 

Old  good  Master  Black-sheep  ! 

PARSON 

[Turns.'] 

Sir! 
MONK 

Old  Nick ! 

PARSON 
[Turns.'] 
Whom  name  you  thus  ? 

MONK 

Your  preacher.     Faugh  !     The  pope 
Hath  bann'd  him  with  five  bulls  for  heresy. 

PLOUGHMAN 

The  old  man  hath  a  good  grip,  if  he  can 
Hold  five  bulls  by  the  horns. 

MAN-OF-LAW 
[Aside  to  Priest.] 

An  ignoramus ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  in 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Dick,  fetch  a  pint  of  moist  ale  from  the  cellar 
For  Master  Bailey  here. 

[Aside.] 

A  small  pint,  mind, 
And  notch  his  tally. 

DICK 

[  Takes  a  stick  from  wall,  notches  it  with  his  knife,  and  shows 
it  to  Bottlejohn.~\ 

Sixpence,  sir,  three  farthings. 

\Dick  then  goes  to  the  cellar  door.  As  he  opens  it,  he  is 
grabbed  within  by  the  Miller,  handed  breathlessly  to  the 
Shipman,  who  claps  his  hands  over  the  boy's  mouth,  and 
disappears  with  him  below.  The  door  then  is  closed, 
but  at  intervals  it  opens  and  the  Miller's  head  is  seen 
cautiously  to  emerge. ~\ 

MERCHANT 

This  Wycliffe's  gab  hath  hurt  good  trade.    'Twas  him, 
Six  year  ago,  whose  preaching  made  the  poor  folk 
March  up  to  London-town  with  Wat  the  Tyler, 
And  burn  the  gentry's  houses. 

DYER 

Served  'em  right ! 

PLOUGHMAN 

God  save  Wat  Tyler ! 

MONK      . 
Peasant !     Spit  upon  thee  ! 

PARSON 

Thou  son  of  Antichrist ! 


112  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

MONK 

Thou  unhang'd  Lollard ! 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Sst !  Sst !  Good  masters !  Pray,  sweet  lordings, 
here 

Comes  Master  Wycliffe. 

\_Enter,  in  conversation,  WYCLIFFE  and  CHAUCER,  followed  by 
JOHANNA,  who  seeks  to  draw  WYCLIFFE  away.  The  Pil 
grims  greet  the  last,  some  with  shouts  of  welcome,  others 
with  hisses.~\ 

WYCLIFFE 

\To  Chaucer. 1 

Certes,  sir,  it  may 

Be  as  you  say.  —  Good  folk  !  good  children !  —  Yet 
To  me  this  England  is  a  gorgeous  tabard, 
Blazon'd  with  shining  arms  and  kingly  shields  ; 
A  cloth  of  gold,  blood-dyed  with  heraldries 
Of  knightly  joustings,  presbyterial  pomps, 
And  red-wine  revellings ;  cunningly,  i'  the  fringe, 
Chaced  round  with  little  lutes  and  ladies'  Cupids 
To  snuggle  the  horse-hair  lining.     This  brave  shirt, 
This  inward-goading  cloth  of  gaiety, 
The  poor,  starved  peasant  wears  on  his  bare  back  — • 
A  ghost,  that  plays  the  bridegroom  with's  despair. 

PLOUGHMAN 

[Amongst  sneers  and  applause. ~\ 
Right ! 

WYCLIFFE 

[To  Chaucer  ^\ 
Friend,  how  seems  it  thee  ? 


THE   CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  113 

CHAUCER 

Sir,  with  your  pardon, 

To  me,  our  England  is  still  "  Merry  England  !  " 
Which  nature  cirqued  with  its  green  wall  of  seas 
To  be  her  home  and  hearth-stone ;  where  no  slave, 
Though  e'er  he  crept  in  her  lap,  was  nursed  of  her ; 
But  the  least  peasant,  bow'd  in  lonely  fief, 
Might  claim  his  free  share  in  her  dower  of  grace ; 
The  hush,  pied  daisy  for's  society, 
The  o'erbubbling  birds  for  mirth,  the  silly  sheep 
For  innocence.  —  Mirth,  friendship,  innocence  : 
Where  nature  grants  these  three,  what's  left  for  envy  ? 
These  three,  sir,  serve  for  my  theology. 

MAN-OF-LAW 

Parfoi !     What  is  this  man  —  a  Papist  ?     Is't 
Some  courtier  ? 

FRANKLIN 

Naw !     He  rings  true  Lollard,  him. 
They're  friends. 

PARDONER 

[Sni/s.-] 
They  say  it  is  a  London  vintner. 

WYCLIFFE 

[Aside,  to  Johanna,  indicating  Chaucer ^\ 
Not  speak  with  him  ? 

JOHANNA 
On  no  account. 

WYCLIFFE 

But  — 


1 14  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

-  JOHANNA 

Tis 

A  villain.     Pray,  sir,  come  to  chapel. 

[She  hurries  Wycliffe  toward  the  door,  where  she  is  accosted, 
beseechingly,  by  the  Squire.'] 

SQUIRE 

Mistress ! 

JOHANNA 

Am  I  beset  ? 

\_Indicating  Chaucer."] 

Join  your  conspirator, 
Signore ! 

[She  sweeps  out.~\ 

SQUIRE 
[Following^] 

Grace,  Madonna,  grace ! 
\_Enter,  right,  Eglantine,  with  her  pries  fs.~\ 

CHAUCER 
\_Aside,  sees  her.~] 

My  lady ! 
PARSON 

[To  Ploughman.'] 

Quick,  mon,  and  light  the  way  for  Master  Wycliffe. 
[Exeunt.'] 

MERCHANT 

[To  Man-of-Law.~] 
Go  you  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  115 

MAN-OF-LAW 
[Smiles  ironically.'] 

Hein  ?    When  an  ass  comes  out  of  Oxford, 
His  braying  charms  great  ears. 
[LowerJ] 

They  say  he  hath 
A  patron  in  John  Gaunt. 

[They  go  out.] 

BOTTLEJOHN 
[Calls.-] 

Dick !     Drat  thee,  Dick ! 
Ned,  fetch  Dick  from  the  cellar  with  that  ale 
For  Master  Bailey. 

NED 

[  Goes  slowly."] 
Can  I  'ave  a  candle  ? 
[The  Host  gives  him  such  a  look  that  he  hastens  on.~] 

BOTTLEJOHN 

[To  Bailey. ~\ 
These  'prentices ! 

BAILEY 

Haw!  Haw! 

MONK 
[To  Pardoner.-] 

Come,  we'll  go  twit  him. 
[Exeunt  toward  chapel."] 

[As  Ned  is  about  to  open  the  cellar  door,  a  black  face  looks 
out  at  him.~] 


Il6  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

NED 

[Running  back.~\ 
Ow  !  Ow  !     A  devil's  head  !     I  seed  a  spook  ! 

BOTTLEJOHN 

[Seizing  a  ladle,  drives  him  back.~\ 
Scat !     And  the  devil  swallow  thee  !     Skedaddle  ! 
Feared  o'  the  dark ! 

NED 

[Goes  whimpering.'] 

'E'll  drub  me  wi'  his  thigh-bones. 

[Opening  the  door,  he  feels  his  way  down.     As  the  door 
closes,  a  faint  scream  comes  from  within.'} 

CHAUCER 

[  To  Prioress,  who,  preceded  by  her  three  priests,  is  about  to 
go  out.~\ 

Madame,  goes  she  to  chapel  ? 

PRIORESS 

Paul,  Joannes, 
Keep  close. 

CHAUCER 

Si  chere  Madame  —  if  dear  my  lady 
Would  vouchsafe  but  a  moment,  till  — 

PRIORESS 
[Pausing,  but  not  looking  at  Chaucer.~\ 

Eh  bien  ? 
CHAUCER 

[  ConfusedJ] 
The  night  is  very  beautiful. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  117 

PRIORESS 

Joannes ! 

CHAUCER 

That  is  —  I  bring  you  tidings  of  your  brother. 

JOANNES 
What  would  Madame  ? 

CHAUCER 

The  moon — 

PRIORESS 
\_To  Joannes. ~\ 

Go,  go — to  chapel. 

JOANNES 

But  will  Madame  — 

PRIORESS 
Va!  Va!- 
[Exeunt priests  ;  she  turns  shyly  to  Chaucer •.] 

Alors,  Monsieur, 
Vous  dites  mon  frere  ?  — 

CHAUCER 

Your  brother — 
[Aside,  as  they  go  out.'} 

Drown  her  brother ! 

WEAVER 
{To  Dyer ^ 

Come  on  ! 

{Exeunt  omnes.~\ 


Il8  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

BOTTLEJOHN 
[Blowing  out  a  candled] 
This  preaching  saveth  tallow. 

[Calls.'] 

Dick! 
Ned  !     Slow  knaves  ! 

[Exit  right.'] 

[  Cautiously,  the  cellar  door  is  opened,  and  enter  the  Mil 
ler.  He  whistles  softly ;  some  one  within  whistles  in 
answer."} 

MILLER 

Be  all  gagged  below  there  ? 

SHIPMAN 

[His  head  appearing?] 

Aye, 

All's  tight  beneath  the  hatches.     Is  the  deck  clear  ? 
[Miller  nods;  Shipman  disappears  for  an  instant.     Then  the 
Miller  bows  lowJ] 

MILLER 

This  way,  your  lordship  — 

COOK 
[Appearing  with  Shipman .] 

'Save  your  Worship! 

[Enter  SUMMONER,  MANCIPLE,  and  HUBERD,  the,  latter  dis 
guise  das  a  chimney-sweep.  Lastly,  ALISOUN  in  the  dress 
of  the  Knight.~] 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  119 

ALL  THE   SWAINS 

Hail, 
Dan  Roderigo  ! 

ALISOUN 

[  While  the  Swains  assist  in  adjusting  her  disguise.~\ 
Good  my  squires  and  henchmen, 
I  thank   you.  —     Roger,   sweetheart,   lace  my  boot 

there.  — 

Our  journey  hath  been  perilous  and  dark  — 
Bob,  chuck,  how  sits  my  doublet?  —  but  praise  Mary, 
I  am  preserved  to  greet  my  virgin  sister ;  — 
God  send  she  like  the  flavour  of  my  beard 
Better  than  me. 

FRIAR 

Let  me  amend  it,  sweet ! 
\_JKisses  her.~\ 

ALISOUN 

Avaunt,  vile  chimney-sweep!     Beshrew  thee,  Huberd 
Love,  wouldst  thou  swap  complexions  ? 
\_Looks  in  a  pewter  plate,  while  the  Cook  holds  a  candle. ~\ 

Thy  smut  nose 

Hath  blotched  the  lily  pallor  of  my  brow 
Like  a  crushed  violet.     Some  powder,  quick, 
And  touch  it  off. 

FRIAR 

[From  his  robe  and  cowl,  which  the  Shipman  holds,  extracts 
a  rabbifs  foot  and  touches  up  Alisoun's  face,  while  the 
Manciple  helps  her  on  with  a  scarlet-lined  mantle.~\ 

Sweet  love,  how  liketh  you 
This  cloak  I  stole  ? 


120  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

'Twill  serve. 

FRIAR 

[Bowing.] 

Your  valet  is 
Your  abject  Ethiop  slave. 

MILLER 
[Kicks  him.~\ 

Your  nincumpoop ! 

Scarecat !     Thou  blacks  thy  friar's  skin  to  save  it, 
Lest  the  fat  vintner  and  the  young  squire  catch  thee 
And  flay  it  off. 

FRIAR 

Even  so. 

SUMMONER 

By  quid,  let's  blab,  then. 
He  kissed  her,  and  we'll  blab. 

COOK,  MANCIPLE,  AND   SHIPMAN 

Aye! 

ALISOUN 

Wo  betide  ye, 
Then  !     Down  !     Kneel  down  —  the  batch  of  ye  — 

and  swear, 

As  ye  have  hopes  to  win  this  lily-white  hand, 
Ye  will  be  brothers,  till  I  win  my  bet. 
Out  with  your  oaths,  now.     Kiss  my  foot  and  say, 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  121 

By  Venus's  lip, 
And  Alis's  hip, 
I  swear  to  keep 
This  fellowship ! 

ALL 

{Severally  trying  to  kiss  her  extended 'foot.~\ 
By  Venus's  lip, 
And  Alis's  hip, 
I  swear  to  keep  — 

BOTTLEJOHN 
[Calls  outside.'] 
Ned !     Dick ! 

ALISOUN 

\_In  low  voice,  to  Swains. ~] 
Get  out !     Back  to  your  cellar  ;  guard 
The  knight  and  the  two  knaves.     Whoever  enters 
Gag  'em  and  tie. 

BOTTLEJOHN 
[Entering."] 

Dick !     Ned  !     The  devil  take 
All  'prentices ! 

ALISOUN 

\_Retaining  Friar.~\ 
Hist! 
{Staying  the  Miller^ 

Bob! 
{To  the  others^ 

Go!  Go! 


122  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

BOTTLEJOHN 

I  wonder 
Was  it  a  spook  he  saw  !     Tis  dark. 

\_Takes  up  an  unlit  candle. ~\ 

ALISOUN 

Mind,  when  he  strikes 
A  light,  I  am  the  devil,  and  your  feet 
Are  hoofs. 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Folk  say  they  dwell  in  cellars. 

FRIAR 

Soft! 

I'll  sprinkle  a  pinch  of  this  sal  volatile 
I'  the  candle  flame. 

BOTTLEJOHN 
[Lights  candle '.] 

I'll  take  my  crucifix. 

\_He  is  about  to  go  toward  the  priedieu,  when  the  Friar 
thrusts  his  hand  over  the  candle  flame.  A  vivid  flash  of 
light  reveals  his  black  face  to  BottlejohnJ\ 

FRIAR 

Succubus !     Incubus ! 
Praestare  omnibus ! 

BOTTLEJOHN 

[Drops  the  candle,  which  goes  out.~\ 
Help  ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  123 

ALISOUN 
Silence ! 

[  On  the  hearth  the  Friar  lights  a  dull  red  flame ,  which  throws 
a  flickering  glow  about  the  room.~\ 

BOTTLEJOHN 
{To  Alisoun.~] 

O !  what  art  thou  ?     Dost  thou  laugh  ? 
What  is  thy  name  ? 

ALISOUN 

My  name  is  Lucifer. 

These  be  my  urchins,  Belial  and  Moloch. 
Salaam !     Salaam ! 

FRIAR  AND  MILLER 
\_Salaaming.~] 
Hail,  Mephistophilis ! 

ALISOUN 
\To  ffost.'] 
What  thing  art  thou  ?  —  Duck  ! 

BOTTLEJOHN 
\Ducks  as  the  Miller  pricks  him  with  a  dirk.~\ 

I  be  Bottlejohn, 
The  host  o'  the  One  Nine-pin. 

ALISOUN 

Bottlejohn, 

Thee  and  thy  One  Nine-pin  I  damn.     For  know, 
Thy  cellar  is  the  attic  over  hell, 


124  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

And  hath  been  leaking  bad  ale  through  my  ceiling 
This  seven  year,  and  made  a  puddle  deep 
As  Proserpina's  garter  in  her  bridal 
Chamber,  where  thy  two  knaves  — 

BOTTLEJOHN 

What!  Ned  and  Dick? 
ALISOUN 

Came  plumping  through  head-downwards  into  hell 
Like  bullfrogs  in  a  tarn. 

MILLER 

And  drowned !  and  drowned ! 
Shalt  thou  in  thine  own  ale. 

\_Leads  him  toward  cellar •.] 

BOTTLEJOHN 

O  Virgin ! 

FRIAR 
\_At  door,  back.~\ 

Whist ! 
One  comes. 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Help!  help! 

ALISOUN 
{To  Miller. ~\ 

Quick,  Belial,  lug  thine  ass 
Into  his  stall.     Instruct  him  with  thy  whittle 
What  manner  devils  we  are,  and  when  I  clap 
My  hands  thus  and  cry  "  Host !  "  then  lead  him  forth. 

[Exeunt  Miller  and  Bottlejohn  into  cellar.     To  Friar.~] 
Meantime,  my  pixy,  hide  we  here. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  125 

FRIAR 

Sweet  lord  — 

\_They  hide  in   the  cupboard.     Enter,   left,    Chaucer  and 
Prior ess.~\ 

PRIORESS 

Parlez  toujours,  Monsieur ! 
Parlez  toujours ! 

CHAUCER 

How  silver  falls  the  night ! 

The  hills  lie  down  like  sheep  ;  the  young  frog  flutes ; 
The  yellow-ammer,  from  his  coppice,  pipes 
Drowsy  rehearsals  of  his  matin-song ; 
The  latest  swallow  dips  behind  the  stack. 
What  beauty  dreams  in  silence !     The  white  stars, 
Like  folded  daisies  in  a  summer  field, 
Sleep  in  their  dew,  and  by  yon  primrose  gap 
In  darkness'  hedge,  St.  Ruth  hath  dropped  her  sickle. 

PRIORESS 

Nay,  yonder's  the  new  moon. 

CHAUCER 

But  here's  St.  Ruth, 

Whose  pity  hath  reprieved  a  vintner's  son. 
Your  nephew's  verses  — 

PRIORESS 

Pray  speak  not  of  them ; 
That  wicked  Friar  Huberd  was  to  blame. 

But  now  — 

[Turning  to  the  casement'} 

The  moon,  Monsieur ;  parlez,  Monsieur  ! 


126  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 
[An/k.] 
11  Parlez,  Monsieur."     How  shall  I  trust  myself? 

[Aloud.'] 

I  may  not,  dear  Madame.     If  I  should  speak, 
My  heart  would  run  in  passages  too  sweet 
For  this  cloy'd  planet. 

PRIORESS 
\_Pointing  through  casement  to  the  sky.~] 

Mais  —  parlez,  Monsieur. 

CHAUCER 

Yea,  if  perchance  there  were  some  other  star  — 

PRIORESS 
Some  other  star  — 

CHAUCER 

Some  star  unsurfeited, 

Some  blessed  star,  where  hot  and  lyric  youth 
Pours  not  swift  torment  in  the  veins  of  age ; 
Where  Passion  —  gorgeous  cenobite  —  blurs  not 
With  fumid  incense  of  his  own  hot  breath 
The  hallow'd  eyes  of  sweet  Philosophy ; 
Where  body  battens  not  upon  the  soul, 
But  both  are  Reason's  angels,  and  Love's  self  — 
Pontifical  in  daisy-chains  —  doth  hold 
High  mass  at  nature's  May-pole ;  —  if  such  star 
There  were  in  all  God's  heaven,  and  such  indeed 
Were  ours,  there  would  I  speak  and  utter,  not 
"  Dear  Eglantine,  I  love  you,"  but  "  We  love." 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  127 

PRIORESS 
Monsieur,  'tis  true. 

CHAUCER 

The  simple  truth,  once  said, 
Is  very  sweet,  Madame. 

PRIORESS 

Merci,  Monsieur. 

ALISOUN 
Whist,  Huberd  ;  are  they  gone  ? 

FRIAR 

Nay. 

ALISOUN 

Did  he  kiss  her  ? 
Bones !     Are  they  dumb ! 

FRIAR 

Art  jealous,  dame  ? 

ALISOUN 

Shut  up ! 

CHAUCER 
\_At  the  window.~\ 
Some  other  star !     Choose,  lady,  which  is  ours  ? 

PRIORESS 

Yonder  cool  star  that  hides  its  winking  light 
Like  a  maid  that  weeps  —  but  not  for  heaviness. 

CHAUCER 

Ha !  If  I  were  Prometheus  now,  I'd  filch  it 
From  out  the  seventh  crystal  sphere  for  you 
And  'close  it  in  this  locket. 

[Seizes  her  hand.~\ 


128  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 

Nay,  that  holds 
My  brother's  hair. 

CHAUCER 

\_Dropping  her  hand,  looks  away  into  the  night.~\ 
We  dream. 

PRIORESS 

Of  what,  Monsieur  ? 

CHAUCER 

We  dream  that  we  are  back  in  Eden  garden 
And  that  the  gates  are  shut  —  and  sin  outside. 

PRIORESS 
Why,  such  in  truth  is  love. 

CHAUCER 

Yes,  such  in  truth 

But  not  in  fact,  dear  lady.     Such  sweet  truth 
Grows  only  on  God's  tree ;  we  may  behold 
And  crave  immortally,  but  may  not  pluck  it 
Without    the    angel's    scourge.  — "  When    Adam 

delved"  — 

Aye,  then  he  dragged  both  heaven  and  earth  and  hell 
Along  with  him.  —  O  God  !  this  suzerain  mansion 
Where  saints  and  crown'd  philosophers  discourse 
Familiarly  together  as  thy  guests  — 
This  ample  palace  of  poesie,  the  mind  — 
Hath  trap-doors  sunk  into  a  murky  vault, 
Where  passion's  serfs  lie  sprawling. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  129 

PRIORESS 

I  am  afraid ! 

CHAUCER 

Forgive  me,  O  sweet  lady  !     I  seem  not 
All  that  I  am. 

PRIORESS 

{Timidly^ 

What  are  you  ? 

CHAUCER 

Do  you  ask  ? 

Why,  then,  for  this  dull,  English  bulk,  'tis  true 
A  London  vintner  gat  it ;  but  for  this 
My  moving  soul,  I  do  believe  it  is 
Some  changeling  sprite,  the  bastard  of  a  god, 
Sprung  from  Pan's  loins  and  white  Diana's  side, 
That,  like  a  fawn,  I  fain  must  laugh  and  love 
Where  the  sap  runs ;  yet,  like  an  anchorite, 
Pore  on  the  viewless  beauty  of  a  book  : 
Not  more  enamoured  (when  the  sun  is  out) 
O'  the  convent  rose,  than  of  the  hoyden  milkweed 
Bold  in  my  path.     Life,  in  whatever  cup, 
To  me  is  a  love-potion.     In  one  breath, 
My  heart  hath  pealed  the  chimes  above  St.  Paul's 
And  rung  an  alewife's  laughter. 

ALISOUN 
[Aside  to  the  FriarJ\ 

Bless  his  heart 
And  waistband  !     Heard  ye  that  ? 

K 


130  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 
[  Who  has  listened,  lost.~] 

To  hear  you  speak 
Is  sweeter  than  the  psalter.     Do  not  stop. 

CHAUCER 
[Aside 9  smiling.~\ 

Dear  Lady  Dreams  !  — 

\_Aloud.~] 

Hark  !    Footsteps  from  the  chapel. 
[Goes  to  the  door.~\ 

It  is  your  nephew  and  his  lady-love. 
Let's  step  aside  before  I  introduce  you, 
And  profit  by  these  pangs  of  "  lyric  youth." 
[Chaucer  and  the  Prioress  step  aside,  as  enter,  left,  Johanna 

and  the  Squire.~] 

SQUIRE 
Stay! 

JOHANNA        | 

Leave  me ! 

SQUIRE 

Hear  me ! 

JOHANNA 

Is  the  house  of  prayer 
No  sanctuary  that  you  drag  me  from  it  ? 

SQUIRE 

Donna,  the  cloudy-pillar'd  dome  o'  the  air 
Alone  can  roof  a  lover's  house  of  prayer. 

JOHANNA 

More  verses  ?     Send  'em  to  your  lady  nun. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  131 

SQUIRE 

O  heartless  bosom  !     Cold  concave  of  pity  ! 
Whet  thy  disdain  upon  the  heart-shaped  stone 
Lodged,  like  a  ruby,  in  that  marble  breast, 
And  slay  me  with  the  onyx  of  thine  eye. 

JOHANNA 

Pray,  did  your  Geoffrey  write  that  ? 

SQUIRE 

Do  not  scorn  him. 

He  named  you  "  Eglantine  "  because  "  Johanna  " 
Was  not  euphonious. 

JOHANNA 

Because  "Johanna" 
Was  not  — 

SQUIRE 

Euphonious.     But  "  Eglantine  "  — 

^        JOHANNA 

But  "  Eglantine  "  was  all  symphonious. 

"  Johanna  "  —  ha  ?  —  was  not  mellifluous 

Enough  to  woo  meJ     So  a  honeysuckle, 

An  eglantine,  must  be  my  proxy  —  ha  ? 

Go  !  go  !     Hide  in  the  night  —  Go  !     Kill  thyself ! 

SQUIRE 
{At  the  door.~\ 

O  sky !  thy  noon  was  a  broad,  glorious  mirror, 
Which  now  hath  fallen  from  its  frame  and  shattered ; 
And  little  stars,  like  points  of  glass,  they  prick  me 
That  gather  back  my  grains  of  crushed  joy. 


132  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 
\_At  the  window^ 

O  starry  night !  thou  art  Fortune's  playing-card, 
All  bright  emboss'd  with  little  shining  hearts 
That  dash  our  own  with  destiny.     Oh,  false ! 

[Turns.'] 
Go  !  —  to  your  Eglantine  ! 

SQUIRE 

Johanna  ! 

CHAUCER 

\_Speaksfrom  the  darkness. ~\ 
Hide,  Cleopatra,  thy  Egyptian  hair ! 

JOHANNA 

Hark! 

CHAUCER 

Esther,  let  melt  thy  meekness  as  the  snow.  — 

JOHANNA 

[Draws  nearer  to  Squire.'} 
What  is  't? 

CHAUCER 

Hide,  Ariadne,  all  thy  beauties  bare ! 

SQUIRE 
Who  speaks  ? 

CHAUCER 

Penelope  and  Marcia  Cato, 

Drown  all  your  wifely  virtues  in  the  Po.  — 

JOHANNA 

Good  Aubrey,  strike  a  light. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  133 

CHAUCER 

Isold  and  Helen,  veil  your  starlit  eyes  — 
Johanna  comes,  that  doth  you  jeopardise ! 

\_The  Squire  lights  a  candle,  revealing  Chaucer. ~\ 

JOHANNA 

O  monster  !     It  is  he. 

\_Chaucer  takes  the  candle  from  the  Squire^s  hand,  and, 

holding  it  high,  approaches  Johanna,  thereby  throwing 

the  Prioress  into  his  own  shadow.~\ 

SQUIRE 
Nay,  gentle  sir! 

CHAUCER 

Laodamia,  Hero,  and  Dido, 
And  Phyllis,  dying  for  thy  Demophon, 
And  Canace,  betroth'd  of  Cambalo,  — - 
Polixena,  that  made  for  love  such  moan, 
Let  envy  gnaw  your  beauties  to  the  bone ; 
Yea,  Hypermnestra,  swoon  in  envious  sighs  — 
Johanna  comes,  that  doth  you  jeopardise ! 

JOHANNA 

Oh,  thank  you  —  both.     Squire,  I  congratulate 
Your  cunning  chivalry  on  luring  me 
From  church  to  bait  me  in  this  bear-trap. 

SQUIRE 

Lady, 
Upon  my  honour  — 

{To  Chaucer. ~\ 

Good  sir  — 


134  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

[To  Johanna. ,] 

Nay,  fear  nothing. 
Indeed,  if  you  but  knew  - 

JOHANNA 
[Catching  sight  of  Prior  ess  ^\ 

If  I  but  knew  ! 
St.  Ann  !     I  know  too  much. 

SQUIRE 

You  would  be  proud 

To  have  him  rhyme  your  name.     Sir,  I  protest 
Had  I  conceived  how  fair  "Johanna"  sounds 
In  verse  — 

CHAUCER 
[Sternly.'} 

Hold,  signorino  !     Was  it  thus 
You  bade  me  sonnetise  your  Eglantine  ? 
You  said  yourself  — 

SQUIRE 

In  sooth,  that  "  Eglantine  " 
Is  sweeter. 

JOHANNA 

Ugh! 

CHAUCER 

There  you  were  false.     For  know 
As  ocean-shells  give  back  the  mermaid's  sigh, 
The  conches  of  a  lover's  ears  should  hold 
Eternal  murmurs  of  his  mistress'  name. 
"Johanna"  should  have  been  thy  conjure-word 
To  raise  all  spirits;  thy  muses'  nom  de plume ; 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 


135 


"  Johanna  "  should  have  learnt  thy  brook  to  purl, 
Thy  pine  to  sorrow,  and  thy  lark  to  soar ; 
And  nightingales,  forswearing  Tereus'  name, 
Have  charmed  thy  wakeful  midnight  with  "Johanna." 

JOHANNA 
\To  Chaucer. ~\ 

Roland  of  Champions  !     Ringrazio ! 
Now,  pray,  what  says  the  other  lady  ? 

SQUIRE 

The  other  ? 

JOHANNA 
\To  Prioress^ 
Dame  Eglantine,  your  most  obsequious. 

PRIORESS 

Votre  servante.  —  I  also,  Mademoiselle, 
Have  been  at  court. 

JOHANNA 

Does  not  Madame  applaud,  then, 
This  vintner's  courtly  eloquence  ? 

PRIORESS 

I  think 

Monsieur  will  soon  explain  how  this  good  youth 
And  I  are  dearly  tied  unto  each  other. 

SQUIRE 
What !     I  —  and  you,  Madame  ? 


136  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 

It  seems  the  trap 
Hath  caught  the  hunters. 

[Aside.] 

Oh,  my  heart ! 

SQUIRE 

I  swear 
I  do  not  know  this  lady. 

JOHANNA 

What !  you  swear ! 

[Aside.] 
Not  perjury  ? 

SQUIRE 

I  swear  that  we  are  strangers ; 
Of  no  relationship,  and  least  of  love. 

JOHANNA 

Oh,  Aubrey,  is  this  true  ? 

SQUIRE 

Why,  Mistress  — 

CHAUCER 

[Aside  to  Squire] 

Soft! 
Walk  with  this  nun  a  moment. 

SQUIRE 

Sir? 

CHAUCER 

Dost  trust  me  ? 

SQUIRE 

Yes,  but  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  137 

CHAUCER 

\_Indicating  Johanna. ,] 
I'll  reconcile  her. 

\_Aside  to  Prioress.~\ 

Tell  him  all, 
Madame.     Leave  us  alone  a  moment. 

SQUIRE 

But  — 

CHAUCER 
\Aloud.~\ 
I  will  not  play  the  hypocrite. 

PRIORESS 
\_To  Squire,  as  they  go  out.~\ 

Dear  Aubrey  — 
JOHANNA 

"  Dear  Aubrey !  "  Gone  !  gone !  and  with  her.    O  base 
Conspiracy !  —  To  leave  me ! 

[To  Chaucer, ,] 

Stand  aside! 
CHAUCER 
Nay,  do  not  follow. 

JOHANNA 

I  ?     I  follow  her? 

Follow  the  lost  Francesca  into  Limbo ! 
She's  damned.     I  seek  my  ward,  De  Wycliffe. 

CHAUCER 

Stay! 

JOHANNA 

St.  Winifred !     You'll  force  —  ? 

CHAUCER 

Donna,  my  heart 
Bleeds  tears  for  you. 


138  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 

Stand  by ! 

CHAUCER 

That  one  so  young, 
So  seeming  virtuous  — 

JOHANNA 

"  So  seeming  "  —  thanks ! 

CHAUCER 

As  this  young  squire  should,  at  one  look  from  his  — 
Should,  at  one  look,  forsake  your  ladyship 
For  his  —  alas !     But  such  is  man  !     The  bonds 
Which  nature  forges  chain  us  to  the  flesh, 
Though  angels  pry  the  links. 

JOHANNA 

The  bonds  which  nature  ?  — 

CHAUCER 

Yes,  nature :  'tis  not  love.     Had  it  been  love, 
Would  he  have  turned,  even  in  his  vows  of  truth, 
And  left  you  with  his  —  ah  !  it  chokes  me.     Nay, 
Go,  go,  great  marchioness,  seek  out  your  ward ; 
I  crave  your  pardon. 

[Bowing,  he  steps  aside.  Johanna,  passing  disdainfully  to 
the  door,  there  pauses,  and  turns  to  Chaucer,  as  though 
he  had  spoken.~] 

JOHANNA 
Well  ? 
[  Chaucer  retires  right^\ 

'Tis  very  dark. 
\_Returning. ~\ 
I  will  wait  here. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  139 

CHAUCER 

In  sadness,  honoured  lady, 
I  take  my  leave. 

\_Ue  goes  to  the  door  ;  Johanna  rises  uneasily '.] 

Yet  I  beseech  your  grace 
Will  never  hint  to  that  poor  youth,  my  friend, 
The  secret  I  let  slip. 

JOHANNA 
[Aside.] 

"  Let  slip  !  "     The  booby !  - 
He  thinks  he's  told  me  who  she  is.     Soft !  now 

I'll  worm  it  out. 

[Aloud.~] 

Wait ;  if  I  promise  never 
To  hint  the  thing  we  know  —  you  understand. 

CHAUCER 
That's  it. 

JOHANNA 

One  moment,  Master  Geoffrey.     I 
Have  rallied  you  somewhat  on  your  paternal 
Vintage. 

CHAUCER 

To  be  hit  by  your  Grace's  wit 
Is  to  die  smiling. 

JOHANNA 

[Ande.] 
How  the  big  fish  bites ! 

\_Aloud,  effusively.'] 

But  you'll  forgive  me  ?     'Tis  my  nature,  those 
To  banter  whom  I  best  adore. 


140  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

[Detaching  a  knot  of  ribbon  from  her  gown,  she  offers  it  to 
Chaucer, .] 

Pray,  sir,  — 

CHAUCER 

For  me  ?  —  A  love-knot !     By  your  Grace's  favours 
I  am  bewildered. 

JOHANNA 

Keep  it  as  a  pledge  — 

For  you  are  Aubrey's  friend,  my  Aubrey's  friend  — 
As  pledge  that  I  will  never,  so  help  me  Heaven, 
Reveal  to  him  my  knowledge  of  his  secret, 
How  Eglantine  is  his  —  oh,  word  it  for  me, 
For  I  am  heartsick. 

CHAUCER 

Trust  me,  honoured  lady, 
You  have  done  bravely.     For  did  he  suspect 
That  I  have  even  whispered  to  you  how 
That  nun,  whose  sensuous  name  he  bade  me  rhyme 
In  verses  meant  for  you,  that  Prioress, 
Whose  cloistral  hand  even  now,  lock'd  in  his  palm, 
Leads  here  your  Aubrey,  how  that  vestal  maid 
Hath  lived  for  months,  nay  years,  your  lover's — oh! 


JOHANNA 

[Seizes  Chaucer's  arm.] 
His  what  ?    In  God's  name,  speak  it !     His  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  141 

CHAUCER 

His  aunt ! 
\_Blows  out  the  candle.~\ 

JOHANNA 
His  aunt  ? 

CHAUCER 

[Going  off  in  the  dark.~] 
O  shire  of  Kent !  thou  shire  of  Kent ! 
To  sit  with  thee  in  parliament 
Doth  not  content 
Me,  verayment, 
Like  laughing  at  lovers  after  Lent. 

Haha !     Hahaha ! 

[£xit.] 

Ho !     Shire  of  Kent ! 

t  JOHANNA 

So  —  Kent  ?     He  mocks  my  title,  doth  he  ? 
O  gall !     If  he  have  made  a  fool  of  me  — 
Yet,  if  he've  made  a  fool  of  me,  O  sweet, 
Sweet  gall ! 

SQUIRE 
[Outside.] 
Johanna ! 

JOHANNA 

Aubrey ! 

SQUIRE 
[Returning  with  Prioress •.] 

He  hath  told  thee? 


142  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 

Nay,  hath  he  told  me  true  ? 

SQUIRE 

This  is  my  aunt, 
Dame  Eglantine,  my  father's  sister. 

ALISOUN 

[Aside.] 

Death ! 

We  must  be  quick. 

FRIAR 
[Aside.] 

I'll  win  thy  wager  for  thee. 
\_Exit  Friar  at  door,  front  left] 

PRIORESS 

T 

[Extending  her  hand  to  Johanna."] 
My  nephew  tells  me  you  and  he  — 

JOHANNA 

Madame, 

I  blush  to  think  of  my  late  rudeness ;  'twas 
My  jealousy.     Yet  you  should  pardon  it ; 
For  you  that  wear  St.  Chastity's  safe  veil 
Can  never  know  how  blind  St.  Cupid  plagues 
The  eyes  of  worldlings. 

PRIORESS 
No? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  143 

SQUIRE 

Love,  you  forgive  me  ? 

\Reenter  Chaucer.~\ 

JOHANNA 

Forgive  you  ?     By  my  heart  —  I'll  think  about  it. 
Here  comes  our  fool.    Come  hither,  What's-your-name. 

CHAUCER 

[  Coming  forward  with  the  love-knot^ 
Your  Grace's  secret-monger. 

JOHANNA 

Tut !    tut ! 
[Embarrassed,  motions  him  to  put  it  away '.] 

Rhymester, 

If  thou  wilt  come  to  court,  I'll  have  thee  made 
Court-fool. 

SQUIRE 

[Aside.] 

O  mistress,  hush ! 

JOHANNA 

A  cask  of  thy 

Diameter  should  keep  King  Richard  drunk 
With  laughter  for  a  twelvemonth.     Cask,  I  swear  it, 
Thou  shalt  be  made  court-fool. 

SQUIRE 
[Aside  to  Chaucer.~\ 

She  doth  not  mean  it. 


144  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 
[Aside  to  Squire, .] 
Nephew,  I  cannot  quite  approve  your  choice. 

JOHANNA 

Nay,  keep  my  knot ;  my  favour  is  renewed. 
I'll  sue  the  king  myself  at  Canterbury 
To  swaddle  thee  in  motley. 

*       [Chaucer  laughs  aside. ~\ 

—  Well,  no  thanks? 

CHAUCER 
Lady,  pray  God  I  live  to  see  that  day. 

JOHANNA 

Amen.     Now,  Aubrey,  where's  your  father  ?     Let's 
Make  merry  all  together. 

PRIORESS 

True,  my  brother ; 
Went  he  to  chapel  ? 

SQUIRE 

Ladies,  I  am  'shamed 
To  make  confession  of  my  selfishness : 
To-day,  all  day,  in  the  sweet  day  and  night 
Of  my  own  thoughts  I  have  been  wandering. 
I  have  not  seen  my  father  since  this  morning. 
I'll  go  and  seek  him  now. 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  boy,  remain. 

Doubtless  he's  gone  to  chapel.     I  will  find  him 
And  bring  him  to  you  here.     First,  though,  let  me 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  145 

Anticipate  my  fool's  prerogative 

And  play  the  father  to  another's  bairns, 

This  vixen  girl  and  boy. 

[  With  an  affectionate  smile  he  draws  Johanna  and  Aubrey 
together  and  kisses  them.~\ 

God  bless  'em  both ! 


St.  Loy  !     No  more  ? 


PRIORESS 
[Aside.'] 


JOHANNA 

Dear  fool,  thou'rt  not  so  old. 
Come  now,  how  old  ? 

CHAUCER 

Ah,  lass,  my  crop  is  rowen. 
When  grey  hairs  creep  like  yarrow  into  clover, 
Farewell,  green  June  !     Thy  growing  days  be  over. 


Bewitching  Eglantine  ! 

\_Exitleft.~] 

PRIORESS 
\_At  the  casement,  aside."] 

»Some  other  star  ! 
[Aloud.-] 
Nephew  ! 

\_The  Squire  and  Johanna  stand  absorbed  in    their  own 
whisperings."] 

Nephew  ! 


146  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SQUIRE 
Madame ! 


PRIORESS 

I  pray  you,  tell 

Your  father,  when  he  comes,  I  am  retired 
A  moment  to  my  room. 

SQUIRE 

I  will,  Madame. 
[Exit  Prioress,  right.~\ 
My  lady,  we're  alone. 

JOHANNA 

Alas,  then  come, 
Sit  and  be  sad. 

[She  sits  in  the  niche  by  the  fireplace^ 

SQUIRE 

Sad  ?     Must  I  wear  a  mask,  then  ? 
Mistress  !     Mistress,  masks  fall  away  from  love 
Like  husks  from  buds  in  April.     By  love's  light 
Lovers  can  look  through  mountains  to  their  joy 
As  through  these  black  beams  I  see  heaven.     Nay, 
Hear  me !     When  I  have  won  my  spurs  — 

FRIAR 

[Sings  within.~] 
What,  ho  !     What,  ho ! 
Dan  Cupido ! 
A  spurless  knight  usurps  thy  halls.  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  147 

JOHANNA 

What's  that  ? 

SQUIRE 
The  friar !     Tis  his  voice. 

FRIAR 

[Sings  within. ~] 
Thy  fortress  falls, 
And  all  her  rosed  charms  — 

JOHANNA 

Is't  in  the  cellar? 

SQUIRE 

Or  the  wall  ? 

\_They  look  up  the  chimney '.] 

FRIAR 

\_Sings  within .] 
To  arms,  Dan  Cupido  !     To  arms, 

Dan  Cupido ! 

\With  a  rush  of  soot,  he  falls  into  the  fireplace. ,] 

Bon  soir ! 

JOHANNA 
'Od's  fiends  ! 

SQUIRE 

[Seizing  Friar,  drags  himforthJ] 
Sneak  thief,  at  last  I  have  thee  —  What ! 
A  chimney-sweep  ? 


148  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

FRIAR 
Did  scare  the  ladykin  ? 

SQUIRE 
Was't  thou  that  sung  ? 

FRIAR 

Sung-la  ? 

JOHANNA 
{Brushing  herself  off.'} 

My  taffeta ! 

SQUIRE 
Sing !     Didst  thou  sing  ? 

FRIAR 

Oh,  sing !     You  mean  the  friar,  sir. 

SQUIRE 
[Peremptorily.  ] 
Where  ? 

FRIAR 

In  the  cellar.     He's  a-hiding,  sir. 

SQUIRE 
I  warrant  him.     Here  — 

[Gives  Friar  a  coin."] 

Come,  show  me  the  scoundrel. 


A  noble ! 


FRIAR 
[Examining  coinj] 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  149 


Oh,  rare 

Sweet  miller, 

Lady-killer, 

Not  there,  not  there  ! 

K  SQUIRE 

\_Eyeing  Friar  with  suspicion^ 
What  ? 

[The  Miller  slips  stealthily  from  the  cellar  door  and  joins 
Alisoun  in  the  cupboard.~\ 

FRIAR 

Was't  so  he  sung,  sir  ? 

SQUIRE 

Yes. 

JOHANNA 

[Still  brushing  her  gown.~\ 
Ruined  ! 

FRIAR 

Sir,  follow,  sir.     I  know  him  well. 
A  begging  friar  ? 

SQUIRE 

Yes.  —  One  moment,  Mistress.  — 
I'll  flay  the  beggar.     Now  ! 

FRIAR 

[The  Friar  opens  cellar  door;   Squire  snatches  his  candle 
and  precedes  him.~\ 

A  sneaking  friar  — 
A  noble  !  —  a  swindling,  skulking,  lying  friar. 


150  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

\_Aside  to  Bob  Miller,  who  joins  him  from  the  cupboard, .] 
O  rare  Bob-up-and-down ! 

[Exeunt;  Alisoun  leaves  the  cupboard  and  exit  stealthily  at 
door,  leftfrontJ] 

JOHANNA 

Stay ;  are  they  gone  ? 
Mass!    mass!     I'm   spotted   worse   than   ink.     And 

kneel 

In  Canterbury  kirk  in  such  a  gown ! 
I'll  eat  it  first.     Oh,  Lord !  Lord,  now  who  comes  ? 
\_Enter,  left  back,  the  Canon's  Yeoman  and  the  Carpenter ; 
after  whom  the  Wife  of  Bath,  disguised."] 

ALISOUN 

Good  fellow,  you  there,  can  you  propagate 
Unto  my  vision  —  a  young  prioress  ? 

CANON'S  YEOMAN 

No,  sir,  I  cannot. 

ALISOUN 

Or  a  marchioness  ? 
[  The  pilgrims  pass  on.~] 

JOHANNA 

\_Aside.~] 
A  marchioness ! 

ALISOUN 

[Twirling  her  sword-scabbard. ~\ 
Hum !     Hum  ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  151 

CARPENTER 

How  went  the  sermon  ? 

CANON'S  YEOMAN 

God's  blood  !     Old  Wycliffe  hammered  the  pope  flat. 
The  pulpit  rang  like  a  hot  anvil. 

CARPENTER 

Aye, 
There'll  be  skulls  cracked  yet. 

\_Exeunt  right.~\ 

ALISOUN 
[To  Johanna^\ 

Amorous  Minerva ! 

JOHANNA 

Signer ! 

[Aside.'} 

My  left  sleeve's  clean. 

ALISOUN 

I  have  a  son, 
Whose  aunt  — 

JOHANNA 

Are  you  the  Knight  of  Algezir  ? 

ALISOUN 

I  am  —  Dan  Roderigo  d' Algezir. 

JOHANNA 

My  Aubrey's  father. 

ALISOUN 

Bones  !     Are  you  Johanna  ? 


152  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 

[Aside.] 
Bones ! 

ALISOUN 

Corpus  arms  !  it  sticks  me  to  the  heart 
To  gaze  on  your  sweet  face,  my  dear. 

JOHANNA 

[Aside.] 

My  dear ! 

ALISOUN 

Ah  !  the  fat  rogue  !     He  said  your  face  was  worth 
Unbuckling  an  off  eye  to  pop  it  in ; 
But  such  a  pretty  finch  ! 

JOHANNA 

Finch  !     Sir,  perhaps 
You  are  deceived  in  me.  —  Who  sent  you  here  ? 

ALISOUN 

Yon  chum  of  that  sweet  spindle-shanks,  my  son  — 
Yon  rhymester,  Master  Geoffrey. 

JOHANNA 

Yes  ;  'twas  he. 
[Aside.] 

Saints  !  is  this  Aubrey's  father  ? 

[Aloud.] 

Doubtless,  sir, 
There's  no  mistake.     Your  sister  left  you  word  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  153 

ALISOUN 

0  villain  !     Aye,  though  I  ha'  bred  him  !     What 
Though  'tis  my  own  son  —  villain  !    God's  teeth ! 

JOHANNA 

Sir! 

ALISOUN 

Your  pardon,  dainty  dame.     Before  I  speak 

1  do  not  rinse  my  mouth  in  oleander. 

I  am  a  blunt  knight.     Nay,  I  cannot  sigh 

A  simoon  hot  with  sonnets  like  my  son. 

I  am  a  blunt  knight  who,  on  Satan's  heel, 

Hath  rode  it  and  strode  it,  wenched  it,  wived  it,  and 

knived  it, 

Booted  and  footed  't,  till  —  by  Venus'  shoestring, 
I  be  a  blunt  and  rough  but  honest  soldier. 

JOHANNA 
Signore,  I  believe  it. 

ALISOUN 

Blunt's  the  word,  then ; 
And  here's  the  blunt  point.     You're  deceived. 

JOHANNA 

By  whom  ? 

ALISOUN 

By  Aubrey. 

JOHANNA 

What! 

ALISOUN 

Aye,  by  my  smiling  son 
Wi'  the  pretty  curls.     Where  is  he  now  ? 


154  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 

Why,  he  — 
He's  gone  to  find  the  friar. 

ALISOUN 

Aye. 


JOHANNA 

Good  Heaven 

Can  he  have  harmed  him  ? 


ALISOUN 

Who  —  the  friar  ?     The  friar's 
His  pal  —  his  pal ;  and  so  is  Geoffrey ;  aye, 
And  that  lascivious,  Latin-singing  nun  — 

JOHANNA 
What!  Eglantine? 

ALISOUN 

Yes,  she ;  those  four !    Child,  child, 
Wouldst  not  believe  it,  how  they've   sneaked   and 

schemed, 

Plotted  my  life,  aye,  for  my  money.     But 
'Twas  lust,  lust  egged  him  on.     Oh  God !  my  son  ! 
And  'twas  a  cherub  'fore  this  Geoffrey  warped  him ! 

JOHANNA 
\To  herself.] 

They  whispered  here :    and   there  she   said  "  Dear 
Aubrey." 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  155 

ALISOUN 

And  their  disguises ;  oh,  you'd  not  helieve  it ! 
That  devil  friar  plays  the  chimney-sweep. 
And  — 

JOHANNA 

Chimney-sweep !  'Twas  he,  then,  sung  ?  Oh,  come ; 
Help! 

ALISOUN 

Where  ? 

JOHANNA 

They're  in  the  cellar. 

ALISOUN 

Like  enough ; 
They're  plotting,  plotting.      God's  wounds !     'Tis  a 

trap. 

Where  be  they  all  ?     Geoffrey  to  send  me  here  — 
My  son  to  leave  you  with  the  friar  —  Ha  ! 
They're  with  that  sly,  deceptive  Prioress ; 
'Tis  she  — 

JOHANNA 

Why,  she's  your  sister. 

ALISOUN 
[As  if  taken  back^\ 

What  —  my  sister  ! 
Is  she  the  Prioress  ?     She  Eglantine  ? 

JOHANNA 

Yes,  yes ;  and  she,  too,  left  upon  a  pretext. 
Sir  Roderigo,  say,  what  shall  we  do  ? 


156  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
My  sister  —  and  my  son ! 

JOHANNA 
[Calls.'] 

Aubrey  !  —  no  answer  ? 

Aubrey  ( 

ALISOUN 

My  son  and  sister ! 

JOHANNA 

Oh,  poor  soldier ! 

ALISOUN 

Oh,  monstrous  brood,  hatched  in  a  vampire's  nest ! 
But  I  will  be  revenged.     Go  to  your  room  ; 
Lock  fast  the  door ;  but  when  I  call,  "  A  brooch, 
A  brooch !  "  come  forth  and  raise  the  house. 

JOHANNA 

Why  "brooch"? 
ALISOUN 

A  watchword.     Quick ;   go  !     I  hear  footsteps.     Go  ! 

[  Urges  her  toward  door,  right  back.~\ 
Blunt  is  the  word ;  your  presence  dangers  me  — 
Your  room.     No,  no,  I  fear  not. 

JOHANNA 

Poor  Sir  Roderick ! 
\_Exit;  Alisoun  shuts  door ;  voices  outside ',  left.~] 

ALISOUN 
A  miss  is  as  good's  a  mile. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  157 

REEVE 
[Outside.] 

Where  went  your  knight  ? 
[Enter  Reeve,  Doctor,  and  Chaucer. ~\ 

CHAUCER 

To  chapel. 

REEVE 

Na,  na,  na;  I  saw  him  not. 

CHAUCER 
[To  Doctor.'] 
Nor  you  ? 

DOCTOR 
A  knight,  say  you,  from  the  Holy  Land  ? 

CHAUCER 

Yes,  a  crusader. 

DOCTOR 

[Points  at  Alisoun."] 
Is  that  he  ? 

CHAUCER 

Ah,  thank  you ; 

[Starts  forward,  but  sees  he  is  mistaken.] 
Nay,  'tis  another  man. 

DOCTOR 
Good  even,  sir. 

REEVE 
[To  Doctor, ] 

Twas  the  first  time  I  heard  the  devil  preach 
In  chapel. 


158  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

DOCTOR 
Wycliffe  ? 

REEVE 

\Nods.~} 

Curse  him  and  his  Lollards ! 
[Exeunt,  right  front.~\ 

CHAUCER 

\_Follows  them  to  door,  and  calls. ,] 
Aubrey ! 

ALISOUN 

[Claps  her  hands. ~\ 
Host! 

CHAUCER 

Signorino ! 

ALISOUN 

Host  here ! 

[Enter  from  cellar  the  Miller  and  Bottlejohn.  As  the 
door  is  closing,  the  chink  is  filled  with  the  faces  of  the 
Swains,  threatening  Bottlejohn.~\ 

MILLER 
[His  dagger  drawn,  aside  to  Bottlejohn.~\ 

Mum ! 
Quick !    Be  thy  ribs  good  whetstones  ? 

BOTTLEJOHN 
[Ducking  to  Alisoun.~\ 

Here,  sweet  lording. 

ALISOUN 
Thou'rt  slow. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  159 

MILLER 
[Aside.-] 
Ribs! 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Slow,  sweet  lording. 

ALISOUN 

Tell  me,  host, 

Hast  thou  residing  in  this  hostelry 
A  gentle  prioress  ? 

CHAUCER 

[And*.] 

What? 

MILLER 

[Aside  to  Bottlejohn,  sharpening  his  dagger  on  an  ale-mugJ] 

Whetstones ! 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Aye, 

Sweet  lording. 

ALISOUN 

Good  ;  go  tell  her  that  her  brother 
Awaits  her  here. 

§  CHAUCER 

[Aside.-] 
Her  brother ! 
[Draws  nearer."] 

HOST 

Aye,  sweet  lording. 

[Starts  for  door,  right  back,  Miller  following^ 

•  ' 


160  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
Her  brother,  say  —  Dan  Roderigo. 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Aye, 
Sweet  lording. 

MILLER 

Host,  hast  thou  a  whetstone  in 
Thy  pocket? 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Aye,  sweet  lording. 

MILLER 
[  Winking  at  Alisoun.~] 

"  Aye,  sweet  lording." 
\_Exeunt  Bottlejohn  and  Miller, .] 
\_Alisoun  ignores  Chaucer's  presence. ~\ 

CHAUCER 
^Approaching  her.~\ 

Your  pardon,  sir,  I  trespass.     By  your  cross 
You  come  — 

ALISOUN 

From  Palestine.     Well  met.     You,  friend  ? 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  I'm  a  door-mouse,  sir  ;  a  doze-at-home. 

My  home's  near  by  at  Greenwich.    You  have  friends — 

Friends  at  the  inn  ? 

ALISOUN 

A  friend,  sir ;  a  fair  friend  ; 
By  Jupiter,  a  sweet  friend. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  l6l 

CHAUCER 

Ah! 


ALISOUN 

A  sister. 

She  is  a  nun. 

CHAUCER 

Good  God ! 


ALISOUN 

A  prioress. 

CHAUCER 
It  cannot  be ! 

ALISOUN 

Signer ! 

CHAUCER 

Her  name  ?     Her  name  ? 

ALISOUN 

What's  that  to  you  —  her  name  ? 

CHAUCER 
[Disconcerted^ 

It  may  be  — 

ALISOUN 

Ah! 

Perhaps  you  know  her  —  what  ?     Tis  Eglantine. 

CHAUCER 

Impossible  !  —  Sir,  pardon  me  ;  I  must 
Have  made  some  strange  mistake. 

M 


162  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

Nay,  friend  ;  I  guess 
Tis  I  have  made  the  blunder. 

CHAUCER 

You,  sir  ? 

ALISOUN 

Sooth, 

I  might  as  well  stick  both  feet  in  the  mire 
And  wade  across  my  blushes.     We  old  lads 
With  beards,  who  sees  our  blushes,  what  ?     So,  then, 
This  prioress,  she  is  not  just  my  sister. 


CHAUCER 
No? 

ALISOUN 

No. 

CHAUCER 
What  then  ? 


ALISOUN 

Vous  savez  bien,  these  nuns, 
When   they  would  have   a   friend,  they  clepe   him 

"  brother." 

Especially  on  holy  pilgrimage 
It  hath  -a  proper  sound :  "  My  brother  meets  me  ; 
My  brother  is  a  knight."     You  cannot  blame  'em ; 
'Tis  more  discreet ;  we  men  must  humour  'em. 
Therefore  this  little  honeysuckle  nun 
Doth  take  delight  to  call  me  brother. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  163 

CHAUCER 

Liar! 

\_As  Chaucer  lifts  his  hand  about  to  strike  Alisoun,  she  raises 
hers  to  guard ;  seizing  it,  he  beholds  her  ring.~\ 

What !  —  "  Amor  vincit  omnia."  —  Even  her  ! 

ALISOUN 
Take  back  your  lie  ! 

CHAUCER 

That  ring  —  tell  me  —  that  ring  ! 

ALISOUN 

St.  Madrian  !     It  is  my  love-ring.     She, 

My  sweet  nun,  gave  it  me.     She  wears  a  brooch 

To  match  it,  on  her  wrist. 

[Enter,  right,  Bottle  John  and  Miller. ~\ 

BOTTLEJOHN 

The  Prioress, 

Sweet  lording. 

\_Enter  the  Prior  ess  ^\ 

PRIORESS 
Brother !     Welcome,  brother  ! 

CHAUCER 

No! 

God !     God  !     I'll  not  believe  it.     Aubrey  !     Aubrey ! 
\Exit,  left.-] 


1 64  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
My  pretty  virgin  sister  ! 

PRIORESS 
[Gives  her  hand,  reticently.'] 

Roderigo ! 

[Looking  after  ChaucerJ] 
He  need  not,  sure,  have  gone. 

ALISOUN 

Put  up  thy  chin, 

My  snow-white  dove.     Aha,  but  thou  art  grown ! 
The  silver  slip  o'  girlhood  that  I  kissed 
Good-by  when  I  set  out  for  Palestine 
Hath  mellowed  into  golden  womanhood. 
Give  me  thy  lips. 

PRIORESS 

Nay,  brother,  nay ;  my  vows ! 
I  may  not  kiss  a  man. 

ALISOUN 

Toot !  never  fear,  then ; 

Thou  shalt  not  break  thy  vows  against  my  beard. 
What,  I'm  thy  brother ;  come  ! 

PRIORESS 

Adieu,  mon  frere. 
ALISOUN 

Soft,  soft,  my  startled  fawn.     You  need  not  jump 

Because  your  brother  is  a  true  crusader. 

Or  didst  thou  fancy  I  was  cut  in  stone, 

With  my  cold  gauntlets  crossed  above  my  breast, 

Like  a  dumb,  marble  knight  upon  a  tomb  ? 

Art  not  thou  glad  to  see  me,  sister  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  165 

PRIORESS 

Yes, 

Mon  f rere.     Forgive  me,  I  had  thought  —    You  see, 
My  nephew  —  'tis  a  pretty  mannered  youth ; 
You're  not  alike,  are  you  ? 

ALISOUN 
[Laughing.'] 

By  Peter's  toe, 

I  hope  not.     Saints  deliver  me  from  being 
A  new-hatched  chicken's  feather. 

PRIORESS 

What !  your  son  ? 

ALISOUN 

Next,  thou'll  be  wishing  I  were  like  that  fellow 
That  fetched   me  here  —  yon  what's-his-name,   yon 
Geoffrey. 

PRIORESS 

Why,  'tis  a  noble  gentleman. 

[Enter,  from  cellar  door,  Summoner,  Shipman,  Cook,  Friar, 
and  Manciple  ;  they  look  on.~\ 

ALISOUN 

Hoho! 

Your  noble  gentleman !     Why,  harkee,  sweet ; 
He  told  me  he's  betrothed  to  an  ale-wife. 

PRIORESS 
He  told  you  —  when  ? 


1 66  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

Just  now,  coming  from  chapel. 

PRIORESS 
Her  name  ? 

ALISOUN 
[Ruminating,  winks  at  the  Swains.'] 

What  was  her  name,  now  ?  —  Alisoun, 
The  Wife  of  Bath,  they  call  her. 

PRIORESS 

O  gran  Dieu ! 

That  person  ! 

ALISOUN 

Person  !     God  wot,  'twas  not  so 
Your  Geoffrey  called  her.     "  Alisoun,"  quoth  he ;  - 
"  My  lily  Alisoun,  my  fresh  wild-rose, 
My  cowslip  in  the  slough  of  womankind, 
Bright  Alisoun  shall  be  my  bride." 

PRIORESS 
[Throwing  herself  into  Alisoun 's  arms.'} 

Mon  frere ! 
Oh,  keep  me  safe,  mon  frere ! 

[She  hides  herface.~\ 

MILLER 
[Laughing.'} 

By  Corpus  bones ! 

SUMMONER 

Look! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  167 

SHIPMAN 

Hold  me  up ! 

BOTTLEJOHN 
[  Whispers] 
Lady,  beware ! 

MILLER 

Mum ! 

PRIORESS 

What 
Are  these  ? 

ALISOUN 
Begone,  you  varlets ! 

'••m.  COOK 

{Bowing] 

Yes,  sweet  lord. 

SUMMONER 

We  know  our  betters. 

{They  withdraw  a  little] 

ALISOUN 

Come,  what  cheer,  my  girl  ? 
Hath  that  churl  Geoffrey  wronged  thee  ? 

PRIORESS 

No,  no,  no ! 

ALISOUN 

Nay,  if  the  churl  hath  wronged  thee,  by  this  locket — 

PRIORESS 
Swear  not  by  that.     He  swore  by  that. 


UNIVERSITY 


or 


168  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 

O  vile! 

He  swore  by  this  —  the  brooch  that  holds  my  hair, 
Thy  brother's  hair  ? 

PRIORESS 

But,  Roderigo  — 

ALISOUN 

What! 

Give't  here  !     Or  maybe  thou  hast  promised  it 
To  him  ? 

PRIORESS 
No,  no,  mon  frere.     Here,  take  it  —  keep  it. 

ALISOUN 

So !     By  this  brooch  — 

[Aside.] 

Now,  lads,  learn  how  to  woo ! 
Now,  by  this  golden  brooch  of  Eglantine, 
And  by  this  little,  slender  wrist  of  pearl, 
Where  once  it  hung ;  and  by  the  limpid  eyes 
Of  Eglantine,  and  by  her  ripe,  red  mouth, 
Yea,  by  the  warm  white  doves  which  are  her  breasts 
And  flutter  at  the  heart  of  Eglantine, 
I  swear  I  will  be  ever  Eglantine's 
And  lacerate  the  foes  of  Eglantine. 

PRIORESS 
Brother,  such  words  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  169 

ALISOUN 

Call  me  not  brother,  sweet ; 
A  brother's  blood  is  lukewarm  in  his  limbs, 
But  mine  for  thee  is  lightning.     Look  at  me ! 
Was  Jove  a  finer  figure  of  a  man 
Than  me  ?     Had  Agamemnon  such  an  arm, 
Or  Hector  such  a  leg  ? 

PRIORESS 

Forbear!  Forbear! 

ALISOUN 

Alack,  she  scorns  me.     Stay,  Venus  of  virgins  ! 
Why  dost  thou  wimple  all  the  lovely  dawn 
Of  thy  young  body  in  this  veil  of  night  ? 
Why  wilt  thou  cork  thy  sweetness  up,  and,  like 
A  mummy,  wrapped  in  rose  and  ivory, 
Store  all  thy  beauty  till  the  judgment-day  ? 
God  did  not  paint  thee  on  a  window-glass. 
Step  down  from  thy  cold  chapel,  rosy  saint, 
And  take  thy  true-knight  in  thine  arms. 

PRIORESS 

Help!  help! 

BOTTLEJOHN 

Pray,  lady,  pray !     It  is  Satanas !     They 
Be  devils  all ! 

ALISOUN 
Love  —  Eglantine  —  I  kneel. 


I/O  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PRIORESS 
Joannes !     Marcus ! 

{Seizing  her  crucifix.~\ 
Tibi,  Domine! 

\_Enter,  right,  Joannes,  Marcus,  and  Paulus.  They  are 
immediately  driven  back  by  the  Summoner,  Shipman, 
and  Cook.'] 

JOANNES 
Madame. 

SHIPMAN 

Come  on ! 

PRIORESS 

Help !     Save  me ! 
\_Enter  Chaucer,  kft.~\ 

ALISOUN 
[To  Prioress.'] 

Lovely  nymph, 
Come  to  my  arms  — 

CHAUCER 

[To  Alisoun,  with  his  sword  drawn. ~\ 
Embrace  me. 

PRIORESS 
[  Goes  to  his  protection.'} 

Cher  monsieur ! 

ALISOUN 

God  save  you,  Master  Geoffrey. 

CHAUCER 

Draw! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  171 

FRIAR 
\_Aside.~] 

Lord!   Lord! 
The  pot  boils.     Now  to  add  the  salt  and  pepper. 

\_Exit  down  cellar. ~\ 

[Enter,  left  back,  in  quick  succession,  all  the  pilgrims,  return 
ing  with  their  links  from  chapelJ] 

PRIORESS 
\_To  Chaucer. ,] 
Monsieur  — 

CHAUCER 
{To  Alisoun.~] 
Draw! 

PRIORESS 

Do  not  fight,  Monsieur  ! 

CHAUCER 

Wilt  draw,  I  say  ? 

ALISOUN 

Draw  what  ?     Draw  you  ?     Merci, 
I'm  not  a  dray-horse. 

CHAUCER 

Is  this  man  your  brother  ? 

PRIORESS 

Oh,  sir,  I  know  not ;  but  he  hath  insulted  — 

CHAUCER 

Insulted  you  ?     Enough.     By  all  the  devils, 
Defend  yourself  ! 


172  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
\_Drawing.~] 

To  arms  then,  sweet  Achilles. 
\Theyfight.    Re-enter  right,  Shipman,  Summoner,  and  Cook. 
They  rush  to  Alisoun's  aid.~] 

SHIPMAN 
Boardside  the  fat  churl. 

PILGRIMS 

Come !     A  fight ! 

FRANKLIN 

\_Enterin g.~\ 

Who  are  they  ? 

MERCHANT 

A  Lollard  and  Papist. 

PRIORESS 
Stay  them !     Stop  them ! 

PILGRIMS 
Down  with  the  Papists ! 

PRIORESS 

Oh,  St.  Loy! 

CHAUCER 

[To  the  crowd.'] 

Stand  off ! 
PILGRIMS 
Down  with  the  Lollards  ! 

\_They  close  in  and  fight  confusedly  with  staves. ~] 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  173 

ALISOUN 
\_Holding  up  the  locket.~\ 

Hold  !    A  brooch  !    A  brooch  ! 

CHAUCER 

I'll  make  thee  yield  it,  ruffian. 

\_From  the  cellar  enter  the  Friar  and  the  Squire,  the  latter 
sword  in  hand,  fragments  of  cut  ropes  still  clinging  to 
him.~] 

SQUIRE 
\To  Chaucer — plunging  at  Alisoun]    , 

Sir,  I'm  with  you. 
\_Enter,  right,  Johanna.] 

ALISOUN 
\_To  Squire] 
Unnatural  son ! 

JOHANNA 

Help! 
\_Throws  herself  between  them.~] 

Brave  Sir  Roderick ! 
[To  Squire] 
Shame !     Shame !     Your  father's  blood  ? 

SQUIRE 

You,  lady  ? 

\Enter,  left,  Wycliffe] 


WYCLIFFE 
{To  the  pilgrims] 


Peace ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 
You,  marchioness !     What  does  this  mean  ? 

ALISOUN 

{Stripping  off  her  beard  and  wig — her  own  hair  falling 
over  her  shoulders  —  snatches  a  warming-pan  from  the 
chimney,  and  confronts  Chaucer.~] 

Sweet  Geoffrey, 
It  means  this  pan  shall  warm  our  wedding  sheets. 

MILLER 

What  devil ! 

CHAUCER 

Alisoun  !  —  My  bet  is  lost. 

FRANKLIN 

The  Wife  of  Bath  ! 

{The  pilgrims  crowd  round  and  laugh.~\ 

JOHANNA 

[  Turning  away.'] 

Impostors ! 

ALISOUN 
{To  Chaucer. ~\ 

Come,  sweet  chuck, 
And  kiss  the  brooch  that  hath  betrothed  our  hearts. 

PRIORESS 

M'sieur,  is  this  true? 
\_As  Chaucer  turns  to  the  Prioress  in  a  kind  of  blank  dismay, 

enter,  from  the  cellar,  swathed  in  a  long  gown,  the  real 

Knight  and  the  Friar. ~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  175 

KNIGHT 

{To  Friar. ~\ 

Where  ? 

[Friar  points  to  Prioress  ;  he  advances^ 
Eglantine ! 

PRIORESS 
\_Aghast  at  this  apparition,  runs  to  the  priedieu^\ 

No  more ! 
CHAUCER 

[Struck,  at  a  flash,  by  this  medley  of  incongruities,  bursts  into 
laughter,  and  seizing  an  ale  mug,  lifts  it  high.~\ 

Alis,  I  drink  to  thee  and  woman's  wit. 

FRIAR 
God  save  the  vintner  and  the  Wife  of  Bath  ! 

PILGRIMS 
[Shout.~\ 
God  save  the  vintner  and  the  Wife  of  Bath ! 

ALISOUN 
{Sharing  the  ale  mug  with  Chaucer.'} 

Sweetheart ! 

Explicit  pars  tertia. 


ACT   FOURTH 

"  AND  specially,  from  every  shires  ende 
Of  Engelond,  to  Caunterbury  they  wende, 
The  holy  blisful  martyr  for  to  seke, 
That  hem  hath  holpen  whan  that  they  were  seke." 


ACT   IV 

TIME:  The  next  day. 

SCENE  :  Before  the  west  front  of  Canterbury 
Cathedral,  gorgeously  decorated  with  tap 
estries,  hatchments,  and  cloth  of  gold. 
Grouped  nearby  are  temporary  booths  of 
venders,  gaily  trimmed. 

Many  pilgrims  are  assembled ;  others  keep  arriving  from 
different  directions,  talking,  praying,  and  sight-seeing. 
At  the  Cathedral  door  a  Priest  blesses,  with  a  sprengel, 
those  who  enter. 

FIRST  VENDER 

Relics !     Souvenirs ! 

SECOND   VENDER 

Blood  of  the  blissful  martyr ! 

A  BLACK   FRIAR 
\_To  Bailey,  the  Host^ 
A  guide,  Sir  Hosteler  ? 

HOST 
Be  off ! 

SECOND  VENDER 
{To  the  Guild-men .] 

Ampulles  ? 
179 


180  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

WEAVER 
What  are  they  ? 

SECOND  VENDER 

Leaden  bottles ;  look ! 

DYER 

What's  in  'em  ? 

SECOND  VENDER 

Drops  from  the  holy  well :  St.  Thomas'  well, 
That  turned  four  times  to  blood  and  once  to  milk ; 
Good  for  the  humours,  gout,  and  falling-sickness. 

WEAVER 

[Buys  some.~\ 
Here. 

SECOND  VENDER 
Eightpence. 

[The  Guild-men  buy,  and  arrange  the  leaden  vials  in  their 

hats."] 

FIRST  VENDER 

Vernicles !     St.  Peter's  keys ! 

CARPENTER 

[Examining  a  purchase. ,] 
What's  written  on  this  brooch,  sir  ? 

CLERK 

"CaputThomae." 

PLOUGHMAN 

[Staring  at  a  statue  in  a  niche  of  the  Cathedral.~\ 
Is  he  alive  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  l8l 

FRANKLIN 

Naw ;  he's  just  petrified. 

BLACK  FRIAR 
{To  Merchant^ 
A  guide,  sir  ? 

MERCHANT 

No. 

BLACK  FRIAR 

Show  you  the  spot,  sir,  where 
The  four  knights  murdered  Becket,  in  the  year 
Eleven  hundred  seventy,  at  dusk, 
The  twenty-ninth  day  of  December  — 

A  GREY   FRIAR 

Nay,  sir, 

I'll  show  you  the  true  statue  of  the  Virgin 
That  talked  to  holy  Thomas  when  he  prayed. 

BLACK  FRIAR 

St.  George's  arm,  sir !     Come ;  I'll  let  you  kiss  it. 

GREY  FRIAR 

This  way ;  the  tomb  of  Edward  the  Black  Prince. 
\_Both  seize  Merchant  and  tug  him.~\ 

MERCHANT 
[Struggling."] 
Mine  host ! 

HOST 

[  Coming  up.~\ 
Pack  off ! 


1 82  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

PARSON 

\To  Ploughman^ 
What  May-day  queen  comes  here  ? 

\_Outside,  left,  are  heard  girls'  voices  singing;  enter,  dressed 
richly  and  gaily,  CHAUCER,  surrounded  by  a  bevy  of  Can 
terbury  brooch-girls,  who  have  wreathed  him  with  flowers 
and  long  ribbons,  by  which  they  pull  him  ;  plying  him 
with  their  wares,  while  he  attempts  to  talk  aside  with 
the  Man-of-Law,  who  accompanies  him.~\ 

CANTERBURY  GIRLS 

[Sing.-] 

High  and  low, 
Low  and  high, 
Be  they  merry, 
Be  they  glum, 
When  they  come 
To  Canterbury, 
Canterbury, 
Canterbury, 
Some  low, 
Some  high, 
Canterbury  brooches  buy. 

CHAUCER 

Sweet  ladies  —  nay,  sweet  Canterbury  muses, 
Not  Hercules  amid  the  Lydian  nymphs 
Was  ravished  by  more  dulcet  harmonies. 

[To  Man-of-Law.'] 
You  sergeants-of-the-law  are  subtle  men. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  183 

MAN-OF-LAW 

We  have  a  knack  —  a  knack,  sir. 

A  GIRL 

Pull  his  sleeve. 

ANOTHER 

They  say  you  are  a  bridegroom.     Is  it  true,  sir  ? 

CHAUCER 

Your  Canterbury  skies  rain  compliments. 

[To  Man-of-Law.~\ 
Pray !  — 

MAN-OF-LAW 

\_Takingmoneyfrom  Chaucer. ~\ 
If  you  insist,  my  lord. 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  not  "  my  lord." 
How  stands  the  case  ? 

MAN-OF-LAW 

You  say  this  wife  hath  been 
Some  eight  times  wedded  ? 

CHAUCER 

Five  times. 

A  GIRL 

Stop  their  gossip, 
He's  talking  business. 

ALL  THE  GIRLS 

Brooches !     Souvenirs ! 


How  much  ? 


CHAUCER 

[Examining  their  wares.'} 


1 84  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

A  GIRL 
This  ?     Two-pence. 

MAN-OF-LAW 

Five  times  —  five  times.     Well ! 

CHAUCER 

\_To  Man-of-Law,  giving  more  money. ~] 
Prithee  — 

MAN-OF-LAW 

If  you  insist. 

A  GIRL 
\To  Chaucer^ 

Mine  for  a  penny. 

MAN-OF-LAW 

Why,  then,  the  case  stands  thus :  By  English  law, 
No  woman  may  be  wedded  but  five  times. 
By  law,  sir,  a  sixth  husband  is  proscribed. 

CHAUCER 

You'll  vouch  for  that  ?     By  law  ? 

MAN-OF-LAW 

Sir,  I  will  quote 

You  precedents  from  William  Conqueror. 

CHAUCER 

Alas,  my  nuptials !     And  I  would  have  made 
So  neat  a  bridegroom  ! 

A  GIRL 

Come,  sir,  will  you  buy  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  185 

ANOTHER 
Take  mine ! 

ALL  THE   GIRLS 

Mine!  Mine!  Mine! 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  fresh  goddesses, 
Your  graces  are  more  heavenly  souvenirs  ! 
Sell  to  me  your  glances 
For  a  poet's  fancies ! 
\_To  a  girl  with  yellow  hair.~\ 
You,  Midas'  daughter,  how  much  for  this  gold  ? 

THE  GIRL 
'Tis  not  for  sale,  sir. 

CHAUCER 
[To  another^ 

How  much  for  that  rose  ? 

THE  GIRL 

What  rose  ? 

CHAUCER 

Your  smile. 

THE   GIRL 

Gratis  —  for  you,  sir. 

\_Enter  Alisoun,  attired  gorgeously  as  a  bride, ,] 
ALL  THE   GIRLS 

Oh-h! 

CHAUCER 

How  much,  Olympians,  for  your  nectar'd  lips  ? 
ALL  THE  GIRLS 

A  kiss !     A  kiss  ! 


1 86  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
Hold !     Give  the  bride  first  licks. 

ALL  THE  GIRLS 

The  bride ! 

ALISOUN 

\_After  kissing  Chaucer^\ 
Now,  lasses,  take  your  turns. 

A  GIRL 

The  shrew ! 

ALISOUN 

Lo  !   what  a  pot  of  honey  I  have  won 

To  lure  the  village  butterflies.     Come,  pretties, 

Sip,  sip,  and  die  o'  jealousy. 

A  GIRL 
{To  Chaucer. ~\ 

Who  is 
This  woman  ? 

CHAUCER 

Nymphs,  this  is  the  gentle  Thisbe 
That  wooed  and  won  me.  Judge  then,  goddesses, 
How  I  must  weep  to  lose  her. 

ALISOUN 

Lose  me,  love  ? 

Nay,  honey-pot,  I  am  too  stuck  on  thee. 
Thy  bosom  is  my  hive,  and  I  queen-bee. 

A  GIRL 
I'd  rather  lose  my  heart  to  a  ripe  pumpkin. 

ANOTHER 

Or  a  green  gourd. 

{They  go  off,  in  piqued  laughter. ~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  187 

ALISOUN 
[Calls  after  them.'] 

What  devil  doth  it  matter 
Whether  he  be  a  pumpkin  or  a  rose, 
So  be  that  he  rings  sound.  —  Give  me  the  man 
That  keeps  his  old  bark  grafted  with  new  buds 
And  lops  away  the  dead  wood  from  his  trunk, 
And  I  will  hug  him  like  the  mistletoe. 
Geoffrey,  thou  art  the  man. 

CHAUCER 

\_As  Alisoun  is  about  to  embrace  him,  turns  to  the  Man-of- 
Law.~\ 

Cold-blooded  knave ! 

The  flower  of  women  and  the  wit  of  wives  — 
Yet  I  must  lose  her ! 

MAN-OF-LAW 

Blame  not  me,  sir ;  blame 

The  law. 

CHAUCER 

O  heartless  knave ! 

MAN-OF-LAW 

By  English  law, 
No  woman  may  be  wedded  but  five  times. 

ALISOUN 
What's  that? 

CHAUCER 

But  is  there  no  exception  ? 

MAN-OF-LAW 

None. 
By  law,  sir,  a  sixth  husband  is  proscribed. 


1 88  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
Hey,  what !     What  devil  ?     Say't  again.     I'm  deef . 

MAN-OF-LAW 

By  law,  dame,  a  sixth  husband  is  proscribed. 

ALISOUN 
Prescribed  ?     Ho,  then,  art  thou  a  doctor  ? 

MAN-OF-LAW 

No, 

I  am  a  sergeant-of-the-law.  —  "  Proscribed  " 
Is  to  say,  dame,  "inhibited,"  "forbidden." 

ALISOUN 

How !  you  forbid  me  to  take  Geoffrey  here 
For  my  sixth  husband  ? 

CHAUCER 
,     Nay,  the  law  forbids  it. 

ALISOUN 
Pish!     What's  the  fine? 

MAN-OF-LAW 

To  hang,  dame,  by  the  neck 
Till  thou  art  dead. 

ALISOUN 

Aye,  man,  by  Geoffrey's  neck. 
Get  out ! 

CHAUCER 

Canst  quote  the  law  ? 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  189 

MAN-OF-LAW 

The  statute,  sir, — 

The  forty-ninth  doom  of  King  Richard  —  saith  : 
"One  woman  to  five  men.sufficeth,"  or 
"Quid  tibi  placet mihi  placet,"  sir. 

ALISOUN 
Hog-gibberish ! 

CHAUCER 
\_Aside.~] 

Nay,  'tis  a  man-of-law. 
But  soft !  we'll  bribe  him. 

ALISOUN 
[Aside.] 
Do,  duck. 

CHAUCER 

Sergeant  —  hist! 

[  Whispers  aside  and  gives  him  money,  as  if  covertly.     Then 
aloud. ,] 

This  statute,  is  there  no  appeal  from  it  ? 

MAN-OF-LAW 

A  special  dispensation  from  the  king ; 
That's  all,  sir. 

ALISOUN 

Break  his  head  ! 

CHAUCER 

Nay,  Alis,  here's 

Good  news.     The  king  himself  is  here  to-day 
In  Canterbury.     I  will  beg  him  grant 
This  special  dispensation  for  our  marriage. 


190  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

ALISOUN 
Thou  —  ask  the  king? 

CHAUCER 
Why  not  ? 

ALISOUN 

Give  me  a  vintner 
For  cheek  !    Sweet  duck,  I  do  believe  thou  lov'st  me. 

\_Enter  the  Miller,  with  the  other  Swains. ~\ 

CHAUCER 
I  am  unworthy,  love,  to  match  thy  wit. 

MILLER 

Thou  art  unworthy,  fool,  to  latch  her  shoe. 

CHAUCER 

Even  so. 

MILLER 

Thou  likes  to  play  the  gentleman ; 
Come,  then  ;  I'll  duel  you. 

CHAUCER 

Good  Bob,  I  love  thee. 

MILLER 
Come  :  knives  or  fists  ? 

CHAUCER 

Kind  Bob,  thou  shalt  this  day 
Shed  tears  and  vow  I  love  thee. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  191 

MILLER 

Wilt  not  fight? 
Then  — 

ALISOUN 

[Intercepting  a  blow  at  ChaucerJ] 
Hold  there,  Robin  Sweetheart,  art  thou  jealous  ? 

MILLER 

Aye,  dame. 

ALISOUN 

What  for? 

MILLER 
\_To  Swains.'] 

She  axes  me  what  for ! 
Axe  her,  who  gagged  the  Knight  ? 

SHIPMAN 

Who  tied  the  Squire  ? 

MANCIPLE 

Who  watched  in  the  wet  cellar  ? 

SUMMONER 

Tied  thy  doublet  ? 

FRIAR 

Who  stole  thy  scarlet  cloak  ? 

COOK 

Who  kissed  thy  toe  ? 

MILLER 

Axe  her,  what  made  us  do  all  this  ?     Mayhap 

To  get  our  backs  flayed  —  what  ?     Mayhap  to  make 

Our  wench  a  wedding  with  this  vintner  here  ? 


192  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

SHIPMAN 
Revenge ! 

FRIAR 

Remember  Peggy's  stall. 
[They  surround  Chaucer  threateningly '.] 

COOK 

Vile  tub ! 

PRIORESS 
{Entering,  left.~\ 
O  Roderigo,  help  him  ! 

KNIGHT 

Whom  ?     That  churl ! 

SQUIRE 

Father,  let  me ! 

KNIGHT 

You  are  deceived  in  him. 

SQUIRE 
But,  sir,  these  are  the  rogues  that  bound  you. 

KNIGHT 

He 
Is  one  of  them.     They  are  beneath  our  notice. 

MANCIPLE 

Death  to  the  vintner ! 

SUMMONER 
Hit  him ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  193 

ALISOUN 

Stand  away ! 

CHAUCER 

\_As  Alisoun,  with  her  fists,  keeps  them  at  bay.~\ 

Happy,  bridegroom,  be  thy  stars 

When  thy  Venus  turns  to  Mars  ! 

[Enter  heralds.~\ 

HERALDS 

Make  way !  Room  for  King  Richard  !  Way !  The 
King! 

CLERK 

[In  the  crowd.~\ 
Shall  we  see  Chaucer  now  ? 

PARSON 

He's  sure  to  come. 

[The  heralds  force  back  all  the  pilgrims,  except  those  of  high 
degree,  showing,  at  the  great  door  of  the  Cathedral, 
a  procession  of  priests  and  choir-boys  about  to  emerge.  ~\ 

PRIEST 

Peace,  folk !   Stop  wrangling.  Kneel !  His  Reverence, 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  meets  the  King. 

PRIORESS 
[To  Squire^ 
Chaucer,  you  say  ? 

SQUIRE 

A  little  patience  more. 

[A  silence  falls  on  the  pilgrims  as,  within  the  Cathedral, 
choir-boys  begin  to  chant  a  hymn.  Issuing  from  the 


IQ4  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

door  and  forming  against  one  side  of  the  massed,  kneel 
ing  pilgrims,  enters  a  procession,  headed  by  splendid- 
vested  priests,  carrying  pictured  banners  of  St.  Thomas 
and  his  shrine,  followed  by  choir-boys,  and  lastly,  by 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  with  regalia.~\ 

THE   PROCESSION 
[&*&.] 

"  Tu,  per  Thorn  ae  sanguinem 

Quern  pro  te  impendit, 

Fac  nos,  Christe,  scandere 

Quo  Thomas  ascendit. 

\_Chants  ^ 

Gloria  et  honore  coronasti  eum  Domine 
Et  constituisti  eum  supra  opera  manuum  tuarum 
Ut  ejus  meritis  et  precibus  a  Gehennae  incendiis 
liberemur." 

\_At  the  climax  of  the  chant,  as  the  Archbishop  appears  in 
the  doorway,  the  chimes  of  the  Cathedral  peal  forth  from 
high  above  the  kneeling  crowd ;  cheers,  beginning  from 
the  right,  swell  to  a  tumult,  and  as  the  people  rise,  enter, 
right,  King  Richard  on  horseback,  the  Dukes  of  Lancaster, 
Gloucester,  and  Ireland  on  ponies,  and  their  train, 
among  whom  are  Wycliffe  and  Johanna  on  foot.  Six 
mules,  laden  with  offerings,  bring  up  the  rear.  The 
shouts  of  "God  save  the  King/"  "God  save  John 
Gatint !  "  etc.,  continue  till  the  King  and  nobles  descend 
from  their  steeds.~\ 

PILGRIMS 
God  save  King  Richard  ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  195 

KING   RICHARD 

Thanks,  good  gaffers,  thanks  ! 
[  To  John  of  Gaunt.~\ 

Sweet  Uncle  Jack,  thou  hast  a  spanking  pony. 
Take  her  to  Spain  with  you,  and  all  the  Dons 
Will  kiss  her  fetlock.  N'est  ce  pas,  bel  ami  ? 

DE  VERE 

They  will,  my  Dick.     Par  charity  !     Haha  ! 

ARCHBISHOP 
[Saluting  gravely, ,] 
God  save  your  Majesty  ! 

KING  RICHARD 

God  save  you,  too  ! 

Your  Reverence  is  looking  in  fine  feather. 
Here  are  some  trinkets  for  the  holy  martyr. 
These  mules  bear  spices  from  Arabia ; 
These  —  tapers  ;  and  these  —  Persian  tapestries. 
Here's  a  neat  statue  of  myself  in  gold ; 
And  so,  and  so,  so.  — 

[To  the  Duke  of  Gloucester.'} 

Pretty  Uncle  Tom, 

I  wish  my  ruffs  were  puckered  like  your  brows. 
Dost  thou  pick  faults,  eh  ?  in  my  Paris  gown  ? 

GLOUCESTER 

My  liege,  this  is  the  shrine  of  holy  Becket. 


196  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

KING   RICHARD 

Lord,  save  our  souls  ! 

\To  De  Vere.~] 

Lend  me  a  looking-glass. 

DE  VERE 

\_Takes  one  from  his  sleeve .] 
Ha  !    Dick,  par  charity  ! 

{Richard  and  De  Vere  look  in  the  glass  and  make  faces  in 
imitation  of  Gloucester  and  the  others.~\ 

PARSON 
[/«  the  crowd  to  the  Clerk.~\ 

Vender's  the  Duke 
Of  Lancaster  :  John  Gaunt. 

CHAUCER 

{Who  has  been  held  back  with  the  crowd  by  the  heralds^ 
pushes  through,and  hastening forward,kneels  to  Johanna, 
who  is  talking  with  Wycliffe.~\ 

A  boon  !  a  boon  ! 

JOHANNA 

{To  Wycliffe^ 
Protect  me,  sir ! 

CHAUCER 

{Holds  up  Johanna 's  love-knot.~\ 

Lady,  once  more,  your  pledge  ! 

JOHANNA 

Unmannered  loon ! 

A  HERALD 

{Seizes  Chaucer  roughly  by  the  shoulder. ~\ 
Get  back ! 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  197 

JOHN  OF  GAUNT 

What,  brother  Geoffrey  ! 

CHAUCER 

Well  met,  old  friend  ! 

[They  embrace^ 

KING  RICHARD 

God's  eyes  !     Our  laureate. 
Halloa  there,  Chaucer  ! 

JOHANNA 

Chaucer  ! 

ALISOUN 

Chaucer  ! 

PRIORESS 

Chaucer  ! 
[  Chaucer  bows  to  the  King^\ 


SQUIRE 

{To  Knight.^ 
Father,  I  said  so. 

GAUNT 

You  are  late,  my  poet. 
What  make  you  here  ? 

CHAUCER 

Blunders,  your  Grace. 


GAUNT 

How,  blunders  ? 

CHAUCER 


Taxing  the  memory  of  a  gracious  lady. 


198  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

JOHANNA 

Signer,  the  place  of  fool  I  should  have  sued 
For  you,  hath  been  already  filled  —  by  me. 
I  crave  your  pardon. 

CHAUCER 

And  I  kiss  your  hand. 

KING   RICHARD 

Ho,  Chaucer! 

ALISOUN 

[Struggling  with  a  her  aid. ~\ 
Let  me  out ! 

CHAUCER 

Your  Majesty  ? 

KING  RICHARD 

When  April  comes,  there's  not  a  man  in  England  • 
But  thinks  on  thee  and  love.  While  thou  art  England's 
And  England  Richard's,  thou  art  Richard's  own. 
[As  the  King  embraces  Chaucer,  Alisoun  breaks  away  from 
the  herald.] 

ALISOUN 
Hold  up,  your  Majesty !     The  man  is  mine. 

KING    RICHARD 

What's  this  ? 

CHAUCER 

My  liege  —  another  blunder. 
[  Chaucer  whispers  aside  to  the  Man-of-LawI\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  199 

KING   RICHARD 

So? 
The  blunder  was  not  God's  in  making  her. 

ALISOUN 
The  man  is  mine. 

KING    RICHARD 

What,  Geoffrey,  art  thou  tripped  ? 
Have  love  and  April  overflowed  thy  verse 
To  fill  thy  veins  ? 

CHAUCER 

Your  Majesty- 

MAN-OF-LAW 
[Aside  to  John  of  Gaunt.~\ 

Dan  Chaucer 
Bid  me  explain  to  you  — 

\They  talk  aside, ,] 

CHAUCER 

Your  Majesty, 

This  is  that  fair-reputed  fay,  Queen  Mab, 
Who,  having  met  amid  the  woods  of  Kent, 
Hath  so  enamoured  me,  as  you  have  said, 
With  love  and  April,  that  —  to  speak  it  short  — 
We  are  betrothed. 

KING   RICHARD 
Betrothed ! 

DE  VERE 

Par  charity ! 


200  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

MILLER 

\_To  a  herald,  who  restrains  him.~\ 
Leave  go ! 

GAUNT 

[Aside  to  Man-of-Law.~\ 
A  miller  ? 

MAN-OF-LAW 

[Aside.] 

Yes,  that  fellow  there. 

ALISOUN 

\_Nudging  ChaucerJ] 
Speak  on,  sweet  chuck. 

CHAUCER 

"  Betrothed,"  your  Majesty  : 

'Tis  a  sweet  word  which  lovers'  law  hath  hallow'd, 
But  which  your  law,  King  Richard,  h'ath  envenom'd. 
"  No  woman  may  be  wedded  but  five  times  :  " 
Thus  saith  the  law. 

KING   RICHARD 

What!   Where? 

GAUNT 

[Laughingly  aside. ~] 

My  liege  ! 
{They  whisper.'} 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  2OI 

CHAUCER 

And  so, 

Because  this  queen  of  wives  hath  scarce  been  knit 
Five  times  in  wedlock,  therefore  —  saith  the  law  — 
Our  bosoms  must  be  sundered. 

MILLER 
\In  the  crowd.~\ 

God  be  praised ! 

CHAUCER 

But  knowing,  King,  how  nobly  wit  and  mercy 
Are  mixed  in  your  complexion,  I  presume 
To  ask  your  greatness  to  outleap  your  laws 
And  grant,  by  special  dispensation,  to 
This  woman  —  a  sixth  husband. 

KING   RICHARD 

By  my  fay,  sir, 
You  ask  too  much.     My  laws  are  sacred. 

\Aside  to  John  of  Gaunt,  who  whispers  him.~\ 

Hein  ? 

ALISOUN 

Dig  him  again  there,  Geoffrey. 

CHAUCER 

King,  have  grace  ! 

^ 

KING  RICHARD 

The  Duke  of  Lancaster  advises  me 
There  may  be  one  exception. 


202  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

[Aside.] 

What  ?     What's  that  ? 
\_Aloud.~] 

But  only  one.     My  law  is  sacred.  —  Woman, 

I  grant  to  thee  the  right  to  wed  once  more 

On  one  condition.     Mark  it ;  thy  sixth  husband 

Must  be  a  miller.  —  Herald,  sound  the  verdict. 

\_As  the  herald  blares  his  trumpet,  Alisoun  shakes  her  fist 

at  Chaucer,  who  eyes  her  slily ;   then  both  burst  into 

laughter.~\ 

HERALD 

If  any  miller  here  desire  this  woman, 
Now  let  him  claim  her. 

MILLER 
[Rushes  up.~] 

Here,  by  Corpus  bones ! 

ALISOUN 

Thou  sweet  pig's  eye  !     I  take  thee. 

[Extending  her  hand  to  Chaucer, .] 

Geoffrey,  quits ! 
CHAUCER 
Quits,  Alisoun ! 

FRIAR 
\_Bobbing  up  between  them."] 

Et  moi  ? 

f 

ALISOUN 

Et  toi. 
[Kisses  him.~\ 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  203 

MILLER 

\_Grabbing  him."] 

Hold,  friar ! 

That  pays  thee  to  perform  the  ceremony. 

KING  RICHARD 

\_Seated,  to  Chaucer."] 

Come  now,  our  prodigal  Ulysses  !     Tell  us ; 
What  dark  adventures  have  befallen  thee  since 
Thou  settest  forth  from  Priam-Bailey's  castle  ? 
What  inland  Circe  witched  our  laureate 
To  mask  his  Muse  among  this  porkish  rabble  ? 

CHAUCER 

My  liege,  may  I  have  leave  to  tell  you  bluntly  ? 

KING   RICHARD 

Carte  blanche,  carte  blanche,  mon  cher.     I'll  be  as 

mute 
As  e'er  King  Alcinous  i'  the  Odyssey. 

CHAUCER 
My  Muse  went  masked,  King   Richard,  from  your 

court 
To  learn  a  roadside  rhyme.     Shall  I  repeat  it  ? 

KING   RICHARD 

Carte  blanche,  j'ai  dit.     Say  on! 

CHAUCER 

Your  Majesty, 

"  When  Adam  delved  and  Eve  span, 
Who  was  then  the  gentleman  ? " 


204  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

MILLER 
By  Corpus  bones ! 

KING  RICHARD 

[Starts  up.~] 
Mort  Dieu ! 

CHAUCER 

"  Carte  blanche,"  my  liege ! 
Six  years  ago  in  London,  when  the  mob 
Roared  round  your  stirrups,  Wat  the  Tyler  laid 
His  hand  upon  your  bridle.     "  Sacrilege  !  " 
Cried  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  Wat  Tyler  fell 

Dead. 

[The  crowd  murmurs. ~] 

GLOUCESTER 

[To  Richard,  remonstratingly.~\ 
Nephew ! 
[The  King,  sitting  again,  motions  Gloucester  silence, ,] 

CHAUCER 

Whereat  you,  your  Majesty  — 
God  save  you,  a  mere  boy,  a  gallant  boy  — 
Cried  out :  "  Good  fellows,  have  you  lost  your  captain  ? 
I  am  your  King,  and  I  will  be  your  captain." 

[  The  pilgrims  cheer.~\      , 

Have  you  forgotten  how  they  cheered  ?     Then  hark  ! 
Once  more  that  "  porkish  rabble  "  you  shall  hear 
Make  music  sweeter  than  your  laureate's  odes. 

[Turning  to  the  crowdJ] 

Pilgrims  and  friends,  deep-hearted  Englishmen, 
This  is  your  King  who  called  himself  your  captain. 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  205 

PILGRIMS 
[Skout.] 
God  save  the  King ! 

CHAUCER 

My  liege,  my  dear  young  liege, 
Are  these  the  dull  grunts  of  the  swinish  herd, 
Or  are  they  singing  hearts  of  Englishmen  ? 
Where  is  the  gentleman,  whose  ermined  throat 
Shall  strain  a  nobler  shout  ?    "When  Adam  delved  " — 
Sire,  Adam's  sons  are  delving  still,  and  he 
Who  scorns  to  set  his  boot-heel  to  the  spade 
Is  but  a  bastard. 

KING   RICHARD 
\_Jumps  up  again.~\ 
'Swounds ! 

PILGRIMS 

God  save  Dan  Chaucer ! 

KING   RICHARD 
{To  Chaucer.'} 

Give  me  thy  hand.    God's  eyes !    These  knaves  cheer 

you 
Louder  than  me.     Go  tell  the  churls  I  love  'em. 

CHAUCER 
\To  the  pilgrims.'} 

His  Majesty  bids  me  present  you  all 
Before  him,  as  his  fellow  Englishmen. 


206  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

KING   RICHARD 
\_As  the  pilgrims  approach."] 
Fellows,  God  bless  you  ! 

{To  Chaucer^ 
Thanks. 

\_Snatching  away  his  looking-glass  from  the  hand  of  De  Vere, 
who  is  making  a  comic  face  at  Chaucer,  he  smashes  it 
upon  the  ground ^\ 

DE  VERE 

Sweet  Dick ! 

ARCHBISHOP 

My  liege, 
The  holy  canopy  is  being  raised. 

\_A  medley  of  sweet  bells  is  heard  from  within  the  Cathedral. 
The  pilgrims  crowd  about  Chaucer •.] 

CHAUCER 

Give  me  your  hands,  my  friends.     You  hear  the  bells 
Which  call  us  to  the  holy  martyr's  shrine. 
Give  me  your  hands,  dear  friends ;  and  so  farewell : 
You,  honest  parson  —  sly  Bob  —  testy  Jack  — 
Gentle  Sir  Knight — bold  Roger —  Master  Franklin  — 
All,  all  of  you !  —  Call  me  your  vintner  still, 
And  I  will  brew  you  such  a  vintage  as 
Not  all  the  saps  that  mount  to  nature's  sun 
Can  match  in  April  magic.     They  who  drink  it  — 
Yes,  though  it  be  after  a  thousand  years, 
When  this  our  shrine,  which  like  the  Pleiades 
Now  glitters,  shall  be  bare  and  rased  stone, 
And  this  fresh  pageant  mildewed  history  — 


THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS  2O/ 

Yet  they  who  drink  the  vintage  I  will  brew 

Shall  wake,  and  see  a  vision,  in  their  wine, 

Of  Canterbury  and  our  pilgrimage : 

These  very  faces,  with  the  blood  in  them, 

Laughter  and  love  and  tang  of  life  in  them, 

These  moving  limbs,  this  rout,  this  majesty ! 

For  by  that  resurrection  of  the  Muse, 

Shall  you,  sweet  friends,  re-met  in  timeless  Spring, 

Pace  on  through  time  upon  eternal  lines 

And  ride  with  Chaucer  in  his  pilgrimage. 

\_A  deep  bell  sounds. ~\ 

ARCHBISHOP 
My  liege,  St.  Thomas  will  receive  his  pilgrims. 

{The  King,  lords,  and  people,  forming  in  procession,  begin 
to  move  toward  the  entrance  of  the  Cathedral^ 

CHAUCER 
\To  Prioress.'} 
Madame,  will  you  walk  in  with  me  ? 

PRIORESS 

Monsieur, 
If  you  will  offer  this  at  Thomas'  shrine. 

CHAUCER 

Your  brooch ! 

PRIORESS 

Our  brooch. 


208  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

CHAUCER 

When  shall  we  meet  again  ? 

PRIORESS 
Do  you  forget  our  star  ? 

CHAUCER 

Forget  our  star ! 

Not  while  the  memory  of  beauty  pains 
And  Amor  vincit  omnia. 

[  The  heralds  blare  their  trumpets ;  the  priests  swing  their 
censers ;  the  choir-boys,  slowly  entering  the  Cathedral, 
chant  their  hymn  to  St.  Thomas,  in  which  all  the  pil 
grims  join.  Just  as  Chaucer  ana  the  Prioress  are  about 
to  enter,  the  curtain  falls •.] 

Explicit  pars  quarta. 

FINIS. 


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ADDENDA 

i.  The  accompanying  reproduction  of  the  original 
Hymn  to  St.  Thomas,  of  which  the  last  verse  only  is 
sung  by  the  pilgrims  in  Act  IV,  is  authentic  in  words 
and  music. 

The  author  is  sincerely  indebted  to  Professor 
Kittredge,  of  Harvard  University,  for  tracing  and 
securing,  through  the  various  courtesies  of  Mr. 
Albert  Matthews  (of  Boston),  Mr.  Frank  Kidson  (of 
Leeds),  Mr.  J.  E.  Matthew  (of  S.  Hampstead,  London), 
and  Mr.  Wilson  (of  the  British  Museum  Library), 
a  copy  of  this  almost  inaccessible  document. 

The  words  are  taken  from  Vol.  13,  p.  240,  of 
Breves'  "Collection  of  Sequences  and  Latin  Hymns." 
The  music  is  copied  from  the  "  Sarum  Antiphonal " 
of  1519. 

In  regard  to  the  music,  Mr.  Wilson  writes  :  "  Each 
of  these  Antiphons  (i.e.  each  verse  of  the  hymn)  is 
sung  once  before,  and  once  after,  each  psalm.  Here 
there  are  five ;  and  at  the  end  of  each  is  the  catch 
word  of  the  psalm.  The  first  is  ' Dominus  regnavit' ; 
the  second,  ' Jubilate?  and  so  on." 

Mr.  J.  E.  Matthew  writes :  "  The  catchword  is  not 
sufficient,  in  every  case,  to  identify  the  psalm,  but  I 
have  indicated  all  the  psalms  having  such  beginnings.1 

1The  psalms,  as  indicated  by  Mr.  Matthew,  are  as  follows:    Be 
ginning   Deus   regnavit,   xxiii,   xcix  ;   Jubilate,  c,  Ixvi ;    Deus,  Deus, 
meus,   xxii,   Ixiii ;     Benedicite,   The    Song   of    the   Three   Children  ? 
(Apocrypha.)     Lattdate,  cxiii,  cxvii,  cxxxiv,  cxlvii,  cxlviii. 
P  209 


210  THE  CANTERBURY  PILGRIMS 

The  lines  '  Gloria  et  honore  coronasti,'  etc.  (part,  of 
course,  of  the  8th  Psalm :  *  Thou  hast  crowned  him 
with  glory  and  honour'),  form  no  part  of  the  service 
in  the  'Sarum  Antiphonal.'  ' 

2.  For  valuable  information  and  advice  regarding 
the  chronology  of  the  "  Canterbury  Tales  "  as  affect 
ing  this  play,  the  author  also  gives  sincere  thanks  to 
his  friend,  Mr.  John  S.  P.  Tatlock,  of  the  University 
of  Michigan. 

3.  The  following  dates  will  reveal  certain  anach 
ronisms  in  the  text  of  his  play,  which  the  writer,  for 
dramatic  purposes,  has  ignored  :  — 

Oct.  i,  1386:  Chaucer  was  elected  Knight  of  the 
Shire  for  Kent,  which  office  he  still  held  in 
April,  1387. 

Dec.  31,  1384:  Wycliffe  died. 

1386:  John  of  Gaunt  left  England  for  Castile. 

4.  According  to  Chaucer  scholars,  the  third  wife 
of  John  of  Gaunt  was  probably  a  sister  of  Chaucer's 
wife.     Upon  this  probability,  though  it  could  not  have 
been  a  fact  until  after   1387,  the  author  bases  his 
dramatic   license  of   referring   to  Chaucer   and   the 
Duke  of  Lancaster  as  brothers-in-law. 

PERCY   MACKAYE. 

NEW  YORK,  March,  1903. 


/'*• 


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Book  Slip-25m-6,'66(G3855s4)458 


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MacKaye,  P. 

The  Canterbury 
pilgrims. 


PS3525 

A25 

C3 


' 


• 


